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BR  1725  .M85  S6 
Spring,  Gardiner,  1785-1873 
A  pastor's  tribute  to  one  oj 
his  flock 


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SI'  I'lj.rai/i.rf  .  /Ti/m  ii- Aftnirifurf   /,,■  M^sy  .W:!rY -AfuiTay 


A  PASTOR'S  TRIBUTE  TO  ONE  OF  HIS  FLOCK. 


THE    MEMOIRS 


OF   THE    LATE 

HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 


BY  / 

GARDINER    SPRING, 

PASTOR   OF   THE    BRICK  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH,   NEW   YORK. 


"  Some  sink  outright ; 
O'er  them,  and  o'er  their  names,  the  billows  close; 
To-morrow  knows  not  they  were  ever  bom: 
Others  a  short  memorial  leave  behind, 
Like  a  flag  floating,  when  the  bark's  engulph'd." 


NEW   YORK: 

ROBERT    CARTER    &    BROTHERS, 
No.    285    BROADWAY. 

1849. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1849,  by 

ROBERT  CARTER  &  BROTHERS, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the 
Southern  District  of  New  York. 


THOMAS   B.    SMITH,    STKREOTYPKR,  ROBERT    CRAIGHEAD,    PRINTER, 

216  WILLIAM  STREET,  N.  Y.  112   FULTON    STREET 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  following  sketch  was  prepared,  and  is  now  pub- 
lished at  the  instance  of  the  author.  Though  cheerfully  ac- 
ceeded  to  by  the  surviving  friends  of  the  subject  of  these 
memoirs,  the  proposal  was  his  own.  He  does  not  profess  to 
be  an  impartial  biographer ;  it  was  impossible  he  should  be 
so.  Yet  has  he  aimed  at  impartiality ;  and  he  is  the  more 
bold  to  appeal  to  those  who  knew  Miss  Murray,  for  the  un- 
colored  verity  of  his  narrative,  because  the  duty  which  has 
devolved  upon  him  has  been  little  more  than  to  collect  and 
present  lier  own  thoughts. 

With  the  documents  put  into  his  hands,  it  has  been  diffi- 
cult to  sever  many  incidents  which  respected  himself  and  his 
pastoral  charge  from  her  private  history  and  views.  Yet 
has  he  done  this,  wherever  it  could  be  done  without  sup- 
pressing important  facts,  and  doing  injustice  to  one  whose 
memory  is  so  richly  embalmed  in  his  own  bosom.  He  had 
no  more  attentive  hearer  than  Miss  Murray ;  none  who  treas- 
ured up  more  of  the  substance  of  his  discourses,  and  none, 
he  presumes  whose  private  papers  furnish  so  full  a  report  of 
them  for  more  than  twentj'  years. 

He  has  styled  the  volume  "  A  Pastor's  Tribute  to  one  of 
his  Flock  ;"  and  not  without  reason.  Her  life,  her  unobtru- 
sive counsel,  her  Christian  sympathy,  were  among  his  great- 


iv  INTRODUCTION. 

est  joys  :  her  death  Wcos  among  his  grecatest  griefs.  It  is  a 
tribute  of  respect,  of  esteem,  of  affection  and  gratitude.  But 
it  is  not  a  mere  tribute  to  her  memory.  It  is  due  to  the 
grace  of  God  as  manifested  in  her,  tliat  that  grace  sliould  be 
known.  She  was  too  rare  a  Christian  to  be  forgotten.  It  is 
due  to  the  hving  who  may  yet  Hve  as  she  hved,  and  die  as 
she  died,  that  her  character  and  counsels  should  be  addressed, 
especially,  to  a  large  class  of  her  accomplished  associates. 

G.  SPRING. 

New  York,  June.  1849,    i 
Brick  Church  Chapel.       J 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I.  p^oE 

HER   EARLY   HISTORY   AND    EDUCATION 7 

CHAPTER  II. 

HER    EARLY    RELIGIOUS    IMPRESSIONS,    AND    HER    STRUGGLES 

WITH    THE    WORLD 28 

CHAPTER  III. 

THE    CHARACTER   OF    HER   RELIGION 41 

CHAPTER  IV. 

EXTRACTS  FROM  HER  DIARY,  AND  HER  DEVOUT  MEDITATIONS    .         61 

CHAPTER  V. 

HER   SACRED   HYMNS 76 

CHAPTER  VI. 

HER   INTEREST   IN   REVIVALS   OF    RELIGION  ...  93 

CHAPTER  VII. 

HER   INTEREST   IN   THE    MISSIONARY   ENTERPRISE      .  .  .125 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

HER  BOUNTY,  AND  HER  INTEREST  IN  BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTIONS      135 

CHAPTER  IX. 

HER   MISCELLANEOUS  POETRY 149 


VI  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  X.  PAGE 

HER   CORRESPONDENCE 180 

CHAPTER  XL 

EXTRACTS   FROM   HER   JOURNAL   WHILE    TRAVELLING    .  .  250 

CHAPTER  XIL 

HER   LAST   SICKNESS   AND   DEATH 275 

'  CHAPTER  XIII. 

CONCLUDING  REFLECTIONS 289 


MEMOIR. 

CHAPTER  I. 

HER    EARLY    HISTORY    AND    EDUCATION. 


"  Who  that  bears 
A  human  bosom,  hath  not  often  felt 
How  dear  all  those  ties  which  bind  our  race 
In  gentleness  together,  and  how  sweet 
Their  force." 


There  is  scarcely  a  more  touching  retro- 
spect, than  that  upon  the  multitudes  who 
were  once  employed  in  the  busy  scenes  of 
labor  and  joy  with  ourselves,  and  who,  in  such 
thick  and  rapid  succession,  have  passed  away. 
The  earth  changes ;  the  lights  of  heaven 
change  ;  time  itself,  so  unruffled  and  equa- 
ble in  its  course,  is  perpetually  changing,  and 
effecting  ceaseless  and  universal  change  in  the 
character,  condition,  and  social  relations  of 
men.  Every  fleeting  year  is  pushing  its  gene- 
ration to  the  tomb ;  an  indissoluble,  a  sacred 
tie  binds  the  race  to  the  grave.  What  we 
loved  yesterday,  what  yesterday  interested,  in- 
structed, charmed  us,  to-day  sleeps,  to  awake 


8  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

not  imtil  the  heavens  be  no  more.  There  is 
but  one  being  who  never  alters.  God  has 
formed  us  for  himself  alone ;  restless  is  the 
heart,  until  it  rests  on  him. 

Yet  are  there  friendships  such  as  the  world 
seldom  knows.  They  have  something  more 
than  natural  sympathies  to  rest  upon  -,  they 
are  founded  in  principle,  nourished  by  confi- 
dence, and  matured  by  time.  They  are  firm 
and  steady  amid  "  evil  report  and  good  report ;" 
and  not  less  amid  frowns  than  smiles.  They 
are  something  more  than  passing  ceremony, 
which  puts  us  in  good  humor  for  the  time. 
They  are  remembered ;  they  are  engraven  on 
the  heart;  no  tempest  effaces  them.  Yet 
even  these  form  a  part  of  this  great  moving 
scene,  where  the  figures  are  passing  and  re- 
passing, and  at  length  disappear.  Early  friends, 
where  are  they  ?  The  grave  has  closed  upon 
them ;  sweet  and  holy  memories  of  them  are 
all  that  remain  to  us. 

There  is  a  fervor  and  freshness  in  early 
friendships,  in  vain  sought  for  in  those  alli- 
ances which  are  formed  when  the  heart  has 
become  chilled  with  disappointment,  poisoned 
by  suspicion,  and  worn  with  care.  Both  are 
beautiful;  but  the  flowers  of  autumn,  bright 
and  symmetrical  as  they  may  be,  do  not  send 
forth  the  blushing  fragrance  of  the  early  year. 
We  try  to  form  such  ties  anew  with  other  and 


MEMOIR  OP  HANNAH  L,  MURRAY.        9 

kindred  minds ;  but  between  the  present  and 
the  past,  the  chasm  is  wide ;  nothing  can  fill  it. 
Broken  at  the  grave,  these  early  bonds  would  in- 
deed mar  the  happiness  of  human  life,  but  for 
the  sweet  hope  that  they  would  be  renewed 
and  perfected  in  a  nobler  and  purer  world. 

Amid  the  multitudes  who  are  now  no  more, 
and  who,  in  the  sunny  days  of  his  youth,  wel- 
comed the  writer  to  his  new  and  untried 
sphere  of  responsible  labor,  was  the  subject 
of  these  memoirs.  Hannah  Lindley  Murray 
was  the  daughter  of  John  and  Hannah  Murray, 
and  was  born  on  the  10th  of  March,  in  the  year 
1777.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, of  Scotch  descent.  Early  in  life — in 
the  year  1758 — and  before  the  revolutionary 
war,  he  became  a  citizen  of  the  state  of  New- 
York,  and  so  continued  until  his  death.  His 
pursuits  were  exclusively  commercial,  and  he 
successively  conducted  the  concerns  of  "  John 
Murray,"  "  Murray,  Sanson  &  Co.,"  and  "  John 
Murray  and  Sons,"  through  a  period  of  nearly 
fifty  years,  and  with  great  success,  in  an  ex- 
tensive importing  and  commission  business. 
He  was  distinguished  for  his  prudence,  discre- 
tion, and  integrity ;  and  though  possessed  of 
ample  means,  was  far  removed  from  all  haz- 
ardous speculation.  He  claimed  and  supported 
a  character  unimpeached  and  unimpeachable, 
and  enjoyed  the  confidence  and  consideration 

1* 


10  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.   MURRAY. 

of  the  mercantile  community.  He  was  well 
experienced  in  the  customs  of  merchants; 
and,  though  without  a  professional  education, 
he  was  so  well  versed  in  the  law  of  marine 
insurance,  that  his  opinions  were  highly  ap- 
preciated and  often  resorted  to.  During  the 
latter  part  of  his  life,  he  enjoyed  so  much  of 
the  public  confidence  as  an  arbitrator  in  in- 
surance cases,  that  they  occupied  no  inconsid- 
erable portion  of  his  time.  He  had  no  ambi- 
tion for  political  advancement,  which  he  might 
have  obtained,  if  he  had  yielded  to  the  solici- 
tation of  his  friends.  He  served  as  governor 
and  treasurer  of  the  New-York  Hospital,  al- 
most from  the  first  foundation  of  that  institu-  " 
tion.  For  a  series  of  years,  he  was  the  presi- 
dent of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  ;  and  when, 
for  the  sixth  time,  in  the  year  1806,  he  was 
elected  to  that  office,  declined  the  appoint- 
ment. He  was  a  director  in  the  branch  of  the^ 
old  United  States  Bank  in  this  city  ;  and  in 
several  crises  of  our  pecuniary  afliairs,  both 
before  and  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution, 
his  financial  talents  were  of  important  service 
both  to  the  city  and  the  country.  He  was 
associated  with  such  men  as  Rufus  King,  Gu- 
lian  Verplanck,  John  Broome,  Henry  Rutgers, 
George  Clinton,  Comfort  Sands,  Edward  Liv- 
ingston, Archibald  Gracie,  and  William  Bay- 
ard ;  and  in  his  political  views,  was  a  thorough 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       H 

whig  and  substantial  federalist.  He  was,  too, 
the  chosen  companion  of  good  men  ;  the  tried 
friend  of  the  Christian  ministry,  a  worthy 
member  of  the  Brick  Presbyterian  Church, 
and,  for  a  number  of  years,  one  of  its  ruling 
elders.  He  had  quick  perceptions  of  what  is 
right,  and  great  decision  and  generosity  of 
character.  He  was  greatly  respected  and  be- 
loved by  his  family,  and  died  the  11th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1808,  in  the  71st  year  of  his  age,  leaving 
not  only  a  large  fortune  to  his  children,  but  a 
reputation  without  reproach. 

The  family  name  of  Mrs.  Murray  was  Lind- 
ley.  Thomas  Lindley,  her  remote  ancestor, 
was  an  Englishman  by  birth,  but  removed 
with  his  family  to  Ireland,  where  he  had  two 
sons,  who  removed  from  Ireland  to  Philadel- 
phia. One  son  married  Hannah  Desbrough ; 
he  had  eight  children,  all  of  whom  died  young, 
except  James,  who  married  Susanna  Lovvnds, 
and  Mary,  who  married  Robert,  the  brother  of 
John  Murray.  Hannah  was  the  daughter  of 
James  and  Susanna  Lindley,  and  was  married 
to  John  Murray,  the  father  of  the  subject  of 
these  Memoirs.  She  belonged  to  the  religious 
society  of  Friends : — in  that  society  she  lived 
and  died.  She  was  evangelical  in  her  views 
and  spirit ;  and  from  long  acquaintance  with 
her,  ever  appeared  to  me  a  truly  Christian  lady. 
Her  habits  were  simple;   her  manners  cour- 


12       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

teous  and  dignified;  and  in  her  tongue  was 
the  law  of  kindness.  Her  adornment  was  that 
of  good  intellect,  fine  taste,  and  a  meek  and 
quiet  spirit.  As  a  wife  her  heart  was  true ; 
she  lived  to  be  a  partaker  in  the  joys  and  sor- 
rows of  her  husband,  to  consult  his  wishes, 
submit  to  his  guidance,  and  make  his  comfort 
and  usefulness  her  study.  Few  females  are 
more  watchful  of  every  domestic  duty,  or  ex- 
hibited a  more  blameless  deportment.  Those 
who  had  the  nearest  inspection  of  her  excel- 
lence, were  the  most  ready  to  acknowledge 
her  worth.  As  a  mother,  she  will  never  be 
forgotten.  That  cheerfulness,  that  unwasting 
affection,  that  wisdom  and  gentleness  so  obvi- 
ous in  forming  the  early  habits  of  her  children, 
that  caution  against  the  noisy  and  polluting 
pleasures  of  the  world,  that  tranquillity  amid 
perplexing  and  wearisome  cares,  that  calm- 
ness in  sorrow  and  that  quickening  in  joy,  which 
all  well  remember  who  knew  her  well,  ren- 
dered her  a  fitting  guide  to  their  youthful 
minds.  She  was  always  at  home, "  looking  well 
to  the  ways  of  her  household,  and  guiding  her 
affairs  with  discretion."  She  "  spread  out  her 
hands  to  the  poor ;  yea,  she  reached  forth  her 
hands  to  the  needy."  "  When  the  ear  heard 
her,  then  it  blessed  her.  When  the  eye  saw 
her,  then  it  gave  witness  to  her ;  because  she 
delivered  the  poor  that  cried,  the  fatherless  and 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       13 

him  that  had  none  to  help  him.  The  blessing 
of  him  that  was  ready  to  perish  came  upon 
her,  and  she  caused  the  widow's  heart  to  sing 
for  joy."  Mrs.  Murray  survived  her  husband, 
lived  twenty-seven  years  a  widow,  and  died 
in  Christian  peace  and  hope,  on  the  22nd  of 
May,  1835,  at  the  advanced  age  of  more  than 
fourscore  years  and  nine,  amid  the  affections 
and  tears  of  her  children. 

Of  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, Hannah  was  the  youngest  but  one.  Her 
frame  was  fragile,  her  mind  active,  and  she 
was  naturally  of  a  gay  temperament.  As  she 
grew  up,  her  person  was  agreeable,  though 
very  delicately  formed ;  her  complexion  re- 
markably fair  and  pure  ;  her  countenance 
intellectual  and  pleasing  ;  her  manners  attrac- 
tive and  easy ;  her  conversation  rich,  enter- 
taining, and  often  full  of  vivacity  and  wit. 
The  engraving  in  this  volume  is  from  a  minia- 
ture taken  in  early  life  by  her  sister ;  none  of 
the  portraits  of  later  years  being  so  good  a 
likeness.  Her  health  was  never  robust,  yet 
seldom  such  as  to  confine  her  to  her  chamber; 
though  she  was  peculiarly  delicate  in  every 
sense  of  the  word.  She  was  brought  up  amid 
all  the  refinement  and  elegance  which  wealth 
could  furnish,  and  which  a  heaven-directed 
caution  and  diligence  subsequently  taught  her 
wisely  to  employ.     There  was  no  intellectual 


14       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

accomplishment,  and  no  accomplishment  of 
art  which  she  had  not  the  opportunity  of  ac- 
quiring, and  of  which  she  did  not  avail  herself 
with  great  fidelity  and  success.  The  best 
schools  and  the.  best  private  masters,  were  her 
instructors  ;  nor  were  there  any  of  their  pupils 
which  gave  them  higher,  or  more  honest  ex- 
ultation. She  was  fitted  to  fill,  and,  for  a 
series  of  years,  did  fill  a  wide  place  in  the 
public  mind,  and  was  the  adornment  of  many 
a  circle  of  fashion  and  splendor. 

Her  natural  disposition  had  some  peculiari- 
ties. She  had  a  fine  intellect,  blended  with  a 
most  amiable  disposition ;  and  these  made  her 
a  cheerful  and  delightful  companion.  She 
possessed  a  clear  judgment  and  great  firmness; 
and  these  rendered  her  a  safe  friend.  Her 
imagination  was  vivid,  and  ever  active,  sleep- 
ing as  well  as  waking ;  so  that  she  has  often 
been  heard  to  say,  "  that  she  should  almost 
think  it  a  waste  of  time  to  sleep  without 
dreaming."  Her  sleep  was  always  filled  with 
beautiful  images,  lovely  scenery,  splendid  and 
unheard-of  appearances  in  the  animal,  mate- 
rial, and  spiritual  kingdoms ;  and  whatever 
was  thus  presented  to  her  imagination,  she 
was  always  permitted  to  enjoy.  She  was 
never  known  to  relate  a  melancholy  dream. 
The  most  delicious  fruits  gratified  her  palate  ; 
and  the  beautiful  in  nature  charmed  her  eye? 


j£^^ 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.   MURRAY.  15 

without  the  usual  embarrassments  attendant 
on  interesting  nightly  visions.     From  the  pure 
and    happy   temperament   of  her   mind,   she 
probably  enjoyed  as  much  worldly  happiness 
as  was   ever  enjoyed  by  any  one   individual 
creature.     She  has  been  repeatedly  heard  to 
say,  that  "  she  wanted  nothing  in  this  world ; 
that  so  bountiful  had  God  been  to  her,  that 
she  coveted  nothing ;  and  that  she  should  be 
entirely  at  a  loss  to  specify  anything  of  a  tem- 
poral nature  that  she  desired."    She  was  phys- 
ically the  most  sensitive  creature  I  ever  knew; 
she  shrunk  from  every  unexpected  touch,  or 
sound;  a  sudden  whisper  would  agitate  her, 
the  falling  of  a  window,  or  the  unexpected  cry 
of  distress  would  sometimes  agitate  her  to  pale- 
ness and  fainting.     On  her  first  visit  to  my  fam- 
ily after  I  became  her  pastor,  an  incident  of 
this  kind  occurred:   and  we   could  not   sup- 
press some  free  comments  upon  it  after  she 
had  left  us.     We  did  her  great  injustice ;  it 
was  perfectly  irresistible   on  her  part.     We 
have,  many  a  time,  laughed  together  over  what 
she  was  pleased  to  call  her  "  unfortunate  intro- 
duction;" and  it  taught  us  not  to  be  hasty  in 
forming  our  judgments  of  character  from  first 
impressions.     She  was  deeply  conscious  of  the 
infirmity ;    she  struggled  against  it ;    but  she 
could  never  subdue  it  to  the  day  of  her  death. 
Yet,  while  thus  physically  sensitive,  she  was 


16       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

morally  one  of  the  boldest  and  most  fearless 
of  women.  In  all  her  intercourse  with  the 
world  and  with  the  church,  with  the  charitable 
institutions  in  which  she  took  so  active  a  part, 
and  amid  collisions  of  sentiment  and  conflict- 
ing measures,  I  do  not  think  it  can  be  said, 
that  she  was  ever  known  to  waver.  She  was 
social  in  her  disposition,  yet  she  was  never 
unhappy  in  retirement ;  she  was  confiding,  yet 
not  credulous.  She  had  a  clear  discernment 
of  character,  and  very  soon  perceived  those 
qualities  to  which  she  might  give  her  love  and 
confidence.  She  selected  her  friends  with 
discrimination ;  and  when  she  had  selected 
them,  she  was  true,  true  without  alloy,  true 
to  the  last,  sterling  truth.  Her  attachments 
were  strong;  her  aversions  rarely  expressed. 
She  could  overlook  imperfections ;  she  could 
wink  at  foibles;  but  she  could  not  brook  de- 
ceit, or  disingenuousness ;  she  shrunk  from 
everything  that  was  low  and  mean,  and  was  at- 
tracted by  all  that  is  high  and  lofty,  either  in 
feeling,  or  deportment.  She  was  generous  in 
her  emotions,  generous  in  her  sentiments,  and. 
generous  in  her  sacrifices. 

Yet,  with  the  single  exception  of  her  nervous 
sensitiveness,  it  would  be  too  much  to  say,  that 
she  possessed  many  striM7ig  and  prominent  fea- 
tures of  natural  character.  They  were  all  so 
subdued,  and  inmingled,  and  shaded  with  a 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.   MURRAY.  17 

veil  of  characteristic  delicacy,  that  in  fixing 
your  mind  upon  them,  it  is  difficult  to  say 
which  was  the  more  prominent.  It  is  not  her 
sprightliness  that  you  think  of  when  recalling 
her  to  your  thoughts ;  nor  is  it  her  kindness ; 
nor  her  unsuspecting  confidence ;  nor  her 
truthfulness  ;  nor  her  wit;  though  these  were 
obvious.  It  is  herself ;  her  blended  excellen- 
cies, neither  of  them  striving  for  the  mastery, 
but  each,  in  its  proper  place  and  proportion, 
doing  homage  to  the  other,  and  all  harmoni- 
ously forming  her  womanly  character.  In  all 
my  acquaintance,  I  have  never  seen,  I  have 
never  read  of  one  which  was  her  parallel.  If 
those  who  were  best  acquainted  with  her  were 
asked  the  question,  Who  reminds  you  most  of 
Hannah  Murray  ?  if  I  mistake  not,  every  one 
of  them  would  reply.  It  is  impossible  for  me 
to  tell :  I  do  not  know  such  another  being. 
She  was  not  the  Martha  who  was  "busied 
about  much  serving;"  nor  yet  the  Mary  who 
"  sat  at  Jesus'  feet  and  heard  his  Avords  ;"  she 
rather  combined  the  natural  peculiarities  of 
both  these  two  sisters.  In  some  respects,  she 
was  like  the  Mary,  who  broke  the  box  of 
precious  ointment  over  the  feet  of  her  divine 
Lord;  in  other  particulars,  she  was  like  the 
Mary  who  stood  near  his  cross  and  wept,  as 
she  saw  him  she  loved  the  derision  of  the 
priests,  and  the  sport  of  the  pojDulace.     While 


18  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.   MURRAY. 

in  her  spiritual  characteristics,  we  would  not 
compare  her  with  that  "  beloved  disciple," 
yet  to  us  it  seems,  that,  in  the  features  of  her 
natural  character,  if  the  sacred  narrator  of 
these  incidents  in  the  evangelical  history, 
who  leaned  on  Jesus'  bosom,  could,  by  the 
hand  of  no  coarse  moral  painter,  be  imbued 
with  a  female  mind,  not  a  little  of  such  min- 
gled and  beautiful  coloring  would  form  a  pic- 
ture quite  in  keeping  with  the  character  of 
Miss  Murray.  There  is  no  female  character, 
in  history,  or  fable,  which  I  can  think  of,  that 
resembles  hers ;  it  would  not  be  likely  that 
either  history  or  fable  would  delineate  such  a 
character. 

Her  intellectual  endowments  were  unques- 
tionably of  a  high  order,  though  they  resem- 
bled rather  those  of  Mrs.  Hemans  than  those 
of  Hannah  More.  Though  she  Avas  by  no 
means  deficient  in  understanding  an  argument, 
and  though  she  rarely  erred  in  the  correctness 
of  her  conclusions,  she  had  never  accustomed 
herself  to  the  severe  application  of  her  logical 
powers.  She  was  accustomed  rather  to  the 
exercise  of  memory,  rapid  analysis,  and  nice 
discrimination,  than  to  tedious  thought.  She 
was  a  lover  of  history;  and  was  never  more 
gratified  than  in  patiently  possessing  herself 
of  the  substance  of  those  elaborate  and  volu- 
minous historical  productions,  which  cost  their 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       19 

authors  the  labor  and  research  of  many  years. 
It  was  a  pleasure  to  hear  her  read  the  pages 
of  an  instructive  and  brilliant  historian.  She 
was  one  of  the  best  of  English  readers. 

Nor  was  she  limited  in  her  researches  to 
works  in  the  vernacular  tongue.  She  possessed 
an  uncommon  facility  in  the  acquisition  of  lan- 
guages. So  ripe  a  scholar  was  she  in  the  Greek 
and  Latin  languages,  that  she  not  only  read 
the  Greek  and  Roman  classics  for  her  own  im- 
provement, but  was  in  the  habit  of  hearing 
the  recitations  of  her  nephews  in  Sallust,  Vir- 
gil and  Cicero,  and  Xenophon  and  Homer. 
She  made  herself  familiar  with  the  French, 
Italian,  and  Spanish;  and  was  making  good 
progress  in  the  German.  She  made  many 
beautiful  translations  from  the  Latin,  Greek, 
and  Italian  poets.  Herself  and  her  surviving 
sister  Mary  jointly  translated,  from  the  Italian 
of  Tasso,  the  whole  of  "  Jerusalem  Delivered" 
in  verse ;  a  work  consisting  of  twenty  cantos,, 
and  more  than  fourteen  thousand  lines.  She 
translated  also  many  of  the  odes  of  Anacreon 
from  the  Greek.  She  made  the  best  transla- 
tion I  have  seen  of  the  "  Fall  of  Phaeton," 
from  the  orio-inal  of  Ovid.  She  left  also  a  ffood 
translation,  from  the  French  of  M.  de  Sacy,  of 
the  very  interesting  history  of  Hungary;  a 
work  which  any  bookseller  would  find  his 
account  in  publishing,   as,  if  I  mistake  not, 


20       MEMOIR  OF  HAXNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

there  is  no  good  history  of  that  country  in  the 
English  language.  She  has  also  left  good 
translations  of  some  of  Massillon's  Discourses, 
a  number  of  Metestazio  operas,  and  a  va- 
riety of  others  from  different  languages.  Yet, 
accomplished  a  scholar  as  she  was,  she  was 
not  less  unpretending  and  unostentatious. 
Sometimes,  if  you  happened  to  enter  her  par- 
lor between  the  hours  of  ten  and  twelve 
o'clock,  you  might  detect  her  in  reading  the 
Greek  Testament,  or  Sallust,  or  Massillon  ;  but 
you  would  never  know  the  work  she  had  so 
delicately  laid  aside  on  your  entrance  but  by 
taking  a  look  at  it  as  she  laid  it  upon  the 
table. 

Her  mind  and  taste  were  formed  and  culti- 
vated especially  for  the  Fine  Arts.  She  had 
a  fine  taste  for  music,  performed  well  on  the 
piano,  and  possessed  an  uncommonly  sweet 
and  powerful  voice.  She  painted  some  good 
portraits,  but  she  excelled  in  landscape  paint- 
ing and  sketching  from  nature.  Natural 
scenery  had  peculiar  charms  for  her ;  she  was 
exquisitely  alive  to  everything  that  is  sublime 
and  beautiful,  either  in  nature  or  in  art.  Her 
own  mind  was  a  living  fountain  of  beauty.  She 
gazed  upon  a  thousand  objects  with  rapture, 
which  others  regarded  with  indifference  ;  she 
analyzed  them,  and  saw  them  made  up  of 
embellishments  which  ordinary  minds  could 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       21 

not  discover.  They  gave  her  pleasures  that 
did  not  pall ;  nor  did  they,  like  severer  labors, 
seem  to  weary  her.  She  carried  them  every- 
where, everywhere  she  enjoyed  them. 

"  Not  a  breeze 
Flies  o'er  the  meadow, — not  a  cloud  imbibes 
The  setting  sun's  eftulgence, — not  a  strain 
From  all  the  tenants  of  the  warbling  shade 
Ascends,  but  whence  her  bosom  could  partake 
Fresh  pleasure  unreproved." 

It  was  the  great  privilege  of  Mrs.  S.  and 
myself,  in  company  with  a  number  of  other 
dear  friends,  not  a  few  of  whom  are  "  fallen 
asleep,"  to  travel  extensively  with  the  "  two 
sisters,"  in  the  summer  of  1815.  It  was  a 
month  of  travel  which  will  long  be  had  in  our 
grateful  remembrance.  It  was  delightful  for 
its  society ;  delightful  for  its  sabbaths ;  de- 
lightful for  its  daily  religious  privileges,  its  in- 
structions from  God's  holy  word,  its  prayers 
and  songs  of  praise.  While  at  Saratoga,  Mrs. 
S.  and  myself  were  furnished  with  a  large 
room  at  Lewis's,  now  Union  Hall,  just  in 
front  of  the  piazza,  where  our  large  party  as- 
sembled morning  and  evening  for  family  wor- 
ship ;  and  as  the  weather  ^\'as  warm,  the  win- 
dows remained  unclosed.  The  service  became 
attractive,  chiefly  from  the  music — for  we  had 
six  or  seven  fine  voices  in  the  company,  that 
moved  together  in  great  harmony.     We  well 


22       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

recollect  those  seasons.  At  first  the  worship- 
pers consisted  exclusively  of  our  own  party 
and  a  few  invited  friends ;  but  at  length  the 
piazza  became  crowded,  the  room  was  filled, 
strangers  thronged  the  door,  numbers  came 
over  from  Congress  Hall  to  unite  with  us,  and 
the  result  was  that  we  were  requested  to  occupy 
the  large  hall,  which  was  then  in  the  second 
story,  for  a  daily  evening  religious  service.  To 
the  influence  of  the  Miss  Murrays  and  their 
excellent  and  like-minded  brother,  Mr.  John 
R.  Murray,  is  to  be  attributed,  so  far  as  my 
knowledge  extends,  the  introduction  of  this 
daily  public  service  at  Saratoga  Springs. 

This  beautiful  tour  is  also  remembered  for 
the  fascination  which  the  subject  of  these  me- 
moirs threw  around  it  by  lier  admiration  of 
natural  scenery.  For  myself  I  had  thought  I 
possessed  some  susceptibility  to  the  beauties 
of  natural  scenery  ;  but  in  her  society  I  began 
to  feel  that  in  this  respect  I  was  but  among 
the  better  order  of  savages.  Her  resources 
seemed  inexhaustible,  and  she  seemed  to  me 
a  specimen  of  a  new  race  of  beings.  Her 
conversation  was  instructive ;  she  suggested 
thoughts  that  were  valuable  to  every  writer, 
and  every  preacher  of  the  gospel.  Mrs.  S. 
and  myself  have  sat  hours  by  her  side,  at  Sar- 
atoga, at  Glens  Falls,  at  Lake  George,  while 
she  made  those  beautiful  sketches  which  now 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       23 

adorn  the  parlor  of  the  family  mansion  in 
Hudson  square.  Her  portfolio  will  be  found 
to  contain  not  a  few  specimens  from  her  own 
pencil,  which  would  interest  the  most  enthu- 
siastic amateur  in  the  Fine  Arts. 

She  was  no  mean  poet.  Several  of  her 
sacred  hymns  and  miscellaneous  poems  will 
be  found  in  this  sketch  of  her  history  and 
character.  They  are  very  simple,  and  some 
of  them  very  sweet.  Her  sacred  hymns,  es- 
pecially were  hasty  productions,  and  do  not 
furnish  the  best  specimens  of  her  poetic  ge- 
nius. The  most  labored  production  of  her 
muse  is  a  poem  in  eight  books,  written  about 
twenty  years  ago,  the  subject  of  which  is  the 
Restoration  of  the  Jews.  It  is  in  heroic  verse, 
and  is  the  united  production  of  the  two  sis- 
ters, Mary  and  Hannah.  It  is  remarkable  for 
its  historical  and  ethnological  research,  the 
smoothness  and  melody  of  its  numbers,  and 
its  religious  inspiration.  It  was  submitted  to 
the  inspection  of  the  writer  of  these  memoirs 
at  the  time  it  was  written,  and  he  has  ever 
regretted  that  its  modest  authors  would  not 
consent,  even  anonymously,  to  give  it  to  the 
world. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  preceding  sketch, 
that  Miss  Murray  possessed  A^ery  diversified 
talents,  and  great  versatility  of  genius.  She 
had,  in  no  common   degree,  the   faculty  of 


24  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.   MURRAY. 

turning  her  mind  to  new  tasks  and  subjects, 
and  those  of  tlie  most  opposite  kind.  She  had 
learned  the  great  art  of  wisely  economizing 
time,  talent,  and  toil,  and  of  directing  them 
to  the  best  advantage.  Not  only  was  she 
alive  to  the  great  and  beautiful,  but  equally 
so  to  the  ludicrous.  So  gay  and  mirthful  were 
her  feelings,  and  so  much  did  she  abound  in 
sprightly  sallies  of  wit,  that  in  no  point  of  her 
character  was  she  more  accessible.  She  was 
often  mortified  by  this  exposure,  and  some- 
times disconcerted  by  being  unable  to  main- 
tain her  gravity,  where  she  felt  that  she  ought 
to  have  maintained  it.  Few  laughed  more 
easily  or  more  heartily,  few  more  tenderly 
wept.  It  would  be  difficult  to  say  Avhether 
she  was  the  more  filled  with  awe  before  the 
finished  compositions  of  Raphael,  or  convulsed 
with  merriment  before  the  sketches  of  Ho- 
garth ;  whether  the  Taming  of  the  Shrew 
delighted  her  most,  or  Hamlet;  whether  she 
were  more  deeply  interested  in  reading  Mil- 
ton's Paradise  Lost,  or  Butler's  Hudibras ; 
Cowper's  Task,  or  Trumbul's  M'Fingal.  The 
reader  will  perhaps  be  surprised  when  he  is 
informed,  that  on  looking  over  her  manuscripts 
there  are  found,  not  only  grave  dissertation 
and  lyric  song,  but  here  an  ode  to  "  Col.  R.'s 
Wig,"  there  "  A  Bridal  Lay ;"  then  an  Elegy 
on  the  death  of  a  bird,  and  then  Lines  on  the 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       25 

"Lost  Smallclothes."  Nor  is  this  anything 
marvellous.  The  same  accomplished  and  de- 
vout mind  that  gave  to  the  world  that  beautiful 
hymn,  beginning  with  the  words, 

"  0  for  a  closer  wallc  with  God," 

was  also  the  author  of  the  ludicrous  poem  en- 
titled "John  Gilpin."  Nay,  even  Thomas 
Moore  justly  claims  the  authorship  of  the 
stanzas  beginning  with  the  line, 

"  0  thou  who  driest  the  mourner's  tear." 

Nor  do  we  feel  at  liberty  to  pass  unnoticed, 
her  exemplary  and  indefatigable  industry. 
Such  was  her  condition  in  the  world,  that  she 
might  have  lived  in  listless  inactivity.  She 
was  not  only  affluent,  but,  remaining  unmar- 
ried, she  had  no  domestic  cares.  Yet  she 
knew  not  how  to  be  idle.  "  Occupy  till  I 
come" — "  redeeming  the  time,"  were  admo- 
nitions which  she  felt  to  be  no  less  applicable 
to  herself  than  to  those  who  toiled  for  their 
daily  bread.  Her  pencil,  her  needle,  her  pen, 
or  her  book,  employed  her  more  leisure  hours ; 
while  her  visits  of  mercy  to  the  poor,  the 
widow,  and  the  orphan,  employed  the  great 
portion  of  her  time  when  she  was  absent  from 
her  own  family  circle.  When  she  had  noth- 
ing to  do  for  herself,  she  was  employed  for 
others.     Few  females  have  left  more  perma- 

2 


26       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

nent  memorials  of  industrious  habits.  It  may- 
be doubted  whether  there  are  any  among 
those  who  survive  her,  who,  Dorcas  like,  pre- 
pared so  many  garments  for  the  poor,  as  were 
the  yearly  product  of  her  own  hands.  She 
was,  in  no  small  degree,  ingenious  in  laying 
out  labor  upon  articles,  in  themselves  of  little 
value,  and  making  them  valuable.  Rich  tapes- 
try, beautiful  centre  tables,  inventions  even  in 
the  smaller  mechanic  arts,  volumes  of  prose 
and  poetry,  religious  and  moral  truths,  illus- 
trated by  some  new  contrivance  or  skilful 
symbol,  adapted  to  the  infant  mind,  all  remain 
as  indications  of  her  own  sense  of  the  value 
of  time,  and  her  cheerfulness  in  toil. 

The  intimate  friends  of  her  youth  and  riper 
years,  were,  Sarah  Broome,  now  Mrs.  J.  Boggs, 
daughter  of  John  Broome ;  Augusta  Temple, 
daughter  of  Sir  John  Temple,  for  a  long  time 
British  Consul,  now  Mrs.  Temple  Palmer ; 
Maria  Nicholson,  now  Mrs.  Montgomery;  Ann 
Ustick,  daughter  of  Thomas  Ustick.  To  all 
of  these  she  was  truly  and  unwaveringly  at- 
tached. They  all  married,  excepting  the  last 
named,  and  of  course  the  intimacy  with  her 
was  more  close,  confidential  and  spiritual  in 
after  life.  She  was  a  woman  of  superior  in- 
tellect, fine  discriminating  judgment;  of  a 
bright  and  cheerful  spirit,  and  genuine  piety. 
I   may  perhaps  be    allowed   to   add,    in   the 


MEMOIR  OF    HANNAH   L.   MURRAY.  27 

language  of  her  surviving  sister,  "  Another, 
too,  there  was — Mrs.  Spring,  the  wife  of  her 
valued  pastor,  to  both  of  whom  she  became 
increasingly  attached,  as  time  and  progressive 
acquaintance  developed  on  both  sides  the  con- 
geniality of  spirit  and  oneness  of  views  which 
link  in  close  connection  minds  and  hearts ;  and 
who,  though  not  of  her  earliest,  were  assuredly 
among  her  strongest  and  most  prized  attach- 
ments, and  which  never  suflered  interruption 
or  abatement." 


CHAPTER   II. 


HER    EARLY    RELIGIOUS    IMPRESSIONS    AND    HER 
STRUGGLES    WITH    THE    WORLD, 


He  sees  with  other  eyes  than  theirs.     Where  they 

Behold  a  sun,  he  views  a  Deity  ; 

What  makes  them  only  smile,  makes  him  adore. 


The  time  of  Miss  Murray's  conA^ersion  she 
herself  never  professed  to  determine.  It  was 
probably  in  childhood.  She  had  impressive 
views  of  the  holiness  of  the  divine  character, 
of  the  spirituality  and  obligation  of  the  divine 
law,  and  of  the  great  evil  of  sin,  in  the  more 
advanced  stages  of  her  religious  experience ; 
but  so  far  as  I  can  learn,  her  conviction  of 
these  truths  was  much  deeper  after  conversion, 
than  before.  She  was  never  brought  to  de- 
spair of  God's  mercy,  nor  to  tremble  as  others 
have  done,  in  vieAv  of  everlasting  burnings. 
She  was  an  example  of  that  grace  which 
"  leads  the  blind  by  a  way  that  they  knew 
not,"  and  in  gentle  paths ;  and  one  of  those 
instances,  of  which  there  are  not  few,  in  which 
"  the  goodness  of  God  leadeth  to  repentance." 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       29 

I  doubt  whether  her  delicate  frame  and  sensi- 
tive mind  could  have  endured  severe  religious 
emotions.  Deep  emotions  would  have  sunk 
her  to  the  grave  ;  God's  terrors  would  have 
made  her  a  maniac ;  and  he  was  pleased  in 
mercy  not  thus  to  deal  with  her. 

The  natural  traits  of  her  character  w^ere 
sanctified  by  religion.  Bright,  and  lovely,  and 
peculiar  as  they  were,  religion  did  not  ob- 
scure them,  but  made  them  more  bright,  ex- 
alted them,  and  gave  even  their  peculiarities 
a  hallowed  and  rainbow  coloring.  They  would 
have  exposed  her  to  vanity  and  folly,  had  they 
not  been  brought  into  happy  subjection  to  the 
God  of  love.  Her  own  estimate  of  the  nature 
and  importance  of  Christian  piety  may  be  best 
learned  from  her  diary  and  her  example.  Few 
valued  it  more  highly,  or  more  truly  appre- 
ciated its  privileges,  or  more  uniformly  en- 
joyed its  hopes  and  consolations.  There  were 
some  scenes  in  her  religious  experience  which 
may  not  be  exhibited ;  some  acts  which  do 
not  admit  of  a  public  recital ;  but  which  are 
too  impressive  ever  to  be  forgotten  by  those 
to  whom  she  ventured  sometimes  to  disclose 
the  conflicts  and  the  victories,  the  doubts  and 
confidence,  the  tears  and  exultations  of  her 
own  sensitive  heart.  Religion  in  her  was  pro- 
ductive of  some  of  its  ripest  fruits  and  best 
joys.     It  was  the  consummation  of  her  char- 


30        MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

acter,  and  gave  it  its  interest,  its  amiable- 
ness,  its  dignity,  its  usefulness.  At  the  dis- 
tance of  many  years,  I  look  back  upon  it  as 
possessing  a  never-fading  beauty.  There  was 
the  charm  of  consistency  about  it ;  it  possessed 
that  rare  uniformity,  that  beautiful  and  sacred 
symmetry  which  are  so  often  wanting  in  those 
professing  godliness,  and  which,  where  they 
are  not  wanting,  are  the  glory  of  the  Christian 
name. 

In  company  with  her  sister  Mary,  she  made 
a  public  profession  of  her  faith  when  she  was 
twenty-four  years  of  age,  under  the  ministry  of 
my  venerable  predecessor,  the  Rev.  Dr.  John 
Rodgers,  in  the  year  1801.  Besides  enjoying 
the  instructions  and  paternal  counsels  of  this 
affectionate  and  faithful  ambassador  of  Christ, 
and  of  her  own  parents,  she  was  the  pupil  of 
one  whose  wisdom,  and  gentleness,  and  de- 
cision of  character  instilled  religious  instruction 
into  many  youthful  minds,  and  formed  the  early 
habits  of  so  many  Christian  females  whose 
life  and  conversation  have  impressively  recom- 
mended the  gospel  of  Christ.  To  how  many 
listening  ears  has  this  "  mother  in  Israel" 
whispered  the  lessons  of  faith  and  piety ! 
How  many  now  alive  and  on  the  earth,  and 
how  many  more  among  the  spirits  of  the  just 
made  perfect,  gratefully  recollect  her  influence 
and  instruction,  her  example  and  prayers,  her 


MEMOIR  OP  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.        31 

solicitude  and  faithful  attention,  as  the  means 
of  their  conversion  !  I  do  not  know  that  the 
lady  to  whom  I  refer  has  left  her  equal  as  a 
successful  teacher  of  the  female  mind,  and  at 
the  same  time,  the  favored  cultivator  and  guar- 
dian of  the  female  heart.  There  is  something 
in  religion,  which,  especially  to  a  young  and 
giddy  girl,  appears  gloomy  and  forbidding;  but 
it  was  conciliatory,  it  was  attractive  in  the  light 
of  her  teacher's  virtues,  and  under  her  mater- 
nal tuition.  The  reader  will  pardon  this  di- 
gression ;  so  near  her  tomb,  we  could  not  but 
turn  aside  from  our  path  to  visit  the  grave  of 
Isabella  Graham. 

It  is  no  common  privilege  to  direct  the 
thoughts  of  the  young  to  the  subject  of  these 
memoirs,  as  an  attractive  example  of  youthful 
piety.  The  following  sketch  of  her  early  life 
and  religious  experience  is  in  her  own  words, 
and  was  found  among  her  private  papers  after 
her  decease. 

"  Having  had  the  advantage  of  early  in- 
struction in  my  duty  toward  God,  and  being 
made  acquainted  with  the  holiness,  and  purity, 
and  majesty  of  the  Ruler  of  the  universe,  my 
mind  was  led  at  an  early  period  to  the  con- 
templation of  the  perfections  of  my  Maker, 
and  my  heart  sensibly  drawn  out  toward  him 
in  love,  and  a  desire  to  do  those  things  which 


32        MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

I  had  been  taught  were  pleasing  in  his  sight. 
I  delighted  much  in  the  society  of  those  who 
professed  to  follow  Jesus,  and  would  often 
rather  sit  by  them  and  hear  their  conversation 
than  engage  in  those  plays  which  naturally 
attracted  children.  Thus  was  the  Lord 
pleased,  in  the  spring-time  of  my  life,  to  touch 
my  heart,  and  to  shed  abroad  in  it  some 
measure  of  his  love. 

"  Being  constitutionally  of  a  very  lively  dis- 
position, as  I  grew  in  years  the  pleasures  and 
amusements  of  the  world  seized  upon  my 
affections,  and  my  young  and  foolish  heart 
eagerly  pursued  those  phantoms,  which  seemed 
to  offer  nothing  but  happiness.  And  God  did 
indeed  grant  me  my  heart's  desire  ;  he  left 
me  nothing  to  ask  for  in  this  life.  He  gave 
me  dear  and  tender  parents,  kind  relatives 
and  friends,  and  favor  in  the  sight  of  those 
with  whom  I  was  associated.  He  blessed  me 
in  my  basket  and  in  my  store,  in  my  going 
out  and  in  my  coming  in.  He  filled  my  cup 
with  blessings,  and  made  it  to  overflow. 

"  But  I  had  forgotten  the  religious  emotions 
of  earlier  days ;  I  became  unmindful  of  the 
Author  of  so  many  mercies.  O !  thou  art  a 
longsuffering  God,  and  it  is  of  thy  compassions 
that  I  am  not  consumed  !  But  in  the  midst  of 
this  prosperity,  there  were  some  sad  hours, 
when  I  had  great  misgivings  of  heart.     Some- 


MEMOIR,  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       33 

times  when  I  had  been  out  in  large  assemblies, 
and  went  weary  to  my  chamber,  and  endeav- 
ored to  engage  in  those  religious  duties  which 
appeared  to  me  could  not  be  dispensed  w^ith, 
my  conscience  was  burdened.  When  I  would 
endeavor  to  offer  up  my  nightly  petitions,  my 
heart  reproached  me.  It  seemed  to  say  to  me, 
This  is  a  mockery  of  God !  thou  art  not  in  a 
fit  frame  of  mind  to  appear  before  the  Judge 
of  all  the  earth !  The  vain  scenes  which  I 
had  just  left  were  still  floating  in  my  imagina- 
tion and  distracting  my  thoughts.  This  feel- 
ing, and  the  shame  which  I,  at  such  seasons, 
experienced,  was  what  first  brought  me  to 
think  that  such  pursuits  are  not  consistent 
with  the  Christian  profession.  It  seemed  to 
me  that  anything  wiiich  tended  to  draw  off 
the  mind  from  the  contemplation  of  divine 
things,  and  to  tempt  me  to  restrain  prayer  be- 
fore God,  must  be  evil  in  the  sight  of  my 
Heavenly  Father,  and  a  mode  of  life  which 
was  improper  and  criminal  in  me  to  pursue. 
But  O,  the  power  the  world  had  upon  my 
mind  !  Though  not,  perhaps,  so  often  as  be- 
fore, I  still  frequented  those  places  of  fashion- 
able amusement,  though  convinced  that  it  was 
wrong.  But  I  was  always  reproached  by  my 
conscience ;  I  felt  weariness  and  disgust  in 
the  midst  of  mirth  and  laughter,  and  verified 
in  my  own  experience  the  saying  of  the  wise 

2* 


34       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

man,  that  "  even  in  laughter,  the  heart  is  sorrow- 
ful'' I  feared  the  ridicule  of  the  world;  I 
dreaded  to  become  singular ;  I  could  not  in- 
cur the  reproaches  and  sneers  of  those  with 
whom  I  was  associated.  And  thus  I  sinned 
in  fearing  the  condemnation  of  men,  more 
than  the  displeasure  of  Him  who  is  God  over 
all,  blessed  for  evermore. 

"  But  he  is  a  wonder-working  God,  who 
does  his  pleasure  in  the  armies  of  heaven,  and 
among  ail  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth,  and 
none  sayeth  unto  Him,  What  doest  thou  ? 
About  this  time,  he  saw  fit,  in  his  infinite  wis- 
dom, to  strike  a  blow,  which  discovered  to 
me  at  once  the  emptiness  of  the  world,  and  the 
uncertain  tenure  by  which  we  hold  all  earthly 
blessings.  This  calamity,  the  death  of  my  be- 
loved father,  was  the  first  affliction  God  had  suf- 
fered me  to  feel ;  and  it  drew  me  nearer  to 
Him.  My  heart  was  wounded  :  God  was  my 
refuge,  and  the  only  source  from  which  I  could 
draw  any  comfort.  I  had  great  satisfaction  in 
the  thought,  that  I  never  knowingly  had  done 
anything  that  was  contrary  to  the  will  of  my 
deceased  parent,  or  that  I  believed  would  give 
him  pain.  O  that  my  Heavenly  Father  would 
teach  me  to  be  as  solicitous  to  please  Him,  and 
as  careful  to  avoid  everything  that  is  contrary 
to  his  will  !  Sanctify,  O  my  God  !  all  my  affec- 
tions, and  enable  me  to  love  thee  with  all  my 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  35 

heart,  with  all  my  soul,  and  all  my  mind,  and 
at  all  times  to  say,  He  doeth  all  things  well. 

"  I  can  say,  with  the  Psalmist,  before  1  was 
afflicted,  I  went  astraij  ;  it  was  good  for  me  to 
have  been  afflicted.  This  heavy  affliction  gave 
me  an  opportunity  of  withdrawing  from  the 
world,  though  not  certainly  such  as  I  should 
have  desired.  But  God  sees  what  is  best  for 
us,  and  from  the  bitterest  draught  effects  the 
most  salutary  and  sweetest  cure.  He  who 
wounds  can  heal ;  and  even  in  the  midst  of 
the  greatest  distress,  give  peace  not  as  the 
w^orld  gives.  Affliction  can  impart  a  joy  which 
the  world  knows  not  of,  and  with  which  a 
stranger  intermeddleth  not.  i|^od  takes  away 
the  sources  of  our  earthly  comfort,  that  He 
may  draw  us  nearer  to  himself,  and  make  us 
understand  that  there  is  no  true  happiness  but 
in  Him;  that  all  creature  comforts  will  and 
must  fail;  and  that  those  who  have  secured 
his  favor,  have  an  everlasting  portion,  a  rich 
and  joyful  inheritance,  that  fadeth  not  away. 
Well  may  I  say.  Hitherto  the  Lord  hath  helped 
me!  When  temptation,  has  assailed  me,  he 
has  enabled  me  to  escape  the  snare.  He  has 
preserved  me  from  entering  again  into  those 
scenes  which  contaminate  the  soul,  and  retard 
its  growth  in  knowledge  and  in  grace. 

"  I  adore  thee,  O  Lord  my  God,  that  whereas 
I  was  blind,  I  now  see.     I  see  the  exceeding 


36  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

sinfulness  of  sin,  and  the  ingratitude  and  guilt 
of  my  past  days,  when  thy  mercies  surrounded 
me,  and  I  returned  not  unto  thee  according  to 
thy  great  goodness  ! 

"  I  used  to  think,  if  I  prayed  once  a  day 
that  was  sufficient,  and  even  felt  that  once  a 
weariness.  Justly  might  God  have  said,  Cut 
her  down,  why  cumber eth  she  the  ground  !  In- 
stead of  this,  he  has  brought  me  on  step  by 
step,  giving  me  line  upon  line,  precept  upon  pre- 
cept, here  a  little  and  there  a  little,  as  he  saw  I 
could  bear  it.  Tliou  knowest  my  frame,  and 
rememberest  that  I  am  but  dust.  Open  thou 
my  lips,  and  my  mouth  shall  show  forth  thy 
praise  !  Thou%as  dealt  bountifully  with  thy 
servant  according  to  thy  word. 

"  Having  examined  my  heart  by  the  test  of 
God's  word,  I  think  I  may,  with  truth  and  sin- 
cerity say,  that  the  Lord  hath  begun  a  good 
work  in  me.  He  has  created  within  me  ardent 
desires  after  that  holiness  without  which  no 
man  shall  see  the  Lord ;  he  has  enabled  me 
to  see  that  the  friendship  of  the  world  is  en- 
mity with  God.  He  requires  that  my  heart 
be  right  with  him,  and  that  I  should  rejoice  in 
all  his  perfections ;  and  that  I  should  yield  my- 
self willingly  to  his  commands,  and  delight  in 
his  law  after  the  inner  man.  I  am  thankful  to 
him  that  he  has  not  revealed  himself  to  me  in 
the  fearful  thunderings  and  lightnings  of  his 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       37 

law ;  that  he  has  not  shaken  my  soul  to  its 
foundation  by  his  terrible  majesty,  appearing 
as  a  sin-avenging  God,  in  whose  sight  no  flesh 
can  stand ;  but  that  when  he  thus  made  known 
himself,  he  has  at  the  same  time  opened  my 
eyes  upo7i  Jesus  as  a  refuge  from  the  storm  of 
his  anger,  as  a  shield  against  the  sword  of  his 
justice.  He  has  drawn  me  with  the  cords  of 
love,  and  made  me  go  softly  all  my  days. 
Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  for  He  hath  dealt 
bountifully  with  thee ;  and  all  that  is  within 
me,  praise  his  holy  name  !  He  alone  it  is  who 
takes  the  heart  of  stone  out  of  our  flesh  and 
gives  us  a  heart  of  flesh  ;  and  unto  his  name 
be  all  the  glory  !  O  Lord,  my  earnest  prayer 
to  thee  is,  that  in  these  conclusions  I  may  not 
be  deceiving  myself,  and  saying,  peace,  peace 
to  my  soul,  when  there  is  no  peace.  Daily 
give  me  to  see  more  clearly  my  interest  in  the 
Lord  Jesus,  and  to  read  more  clearly  my  title 
to  the  heavenly  inheritance.  I  mourn  before 
thee  the  coldness  of  my  heart  toward  him  who 
laid  down  his  life  for  me.  O  give  me  to  ex- 
perience the  joys  of  communion  with  thee  ; 
for  as  yet  I  cannot  come  to  where  thine  honor 
dwelleth.  My  faith  would  fain  soar  beyond 
these  regions  of  sin  and  sense,  and  behold  the 
great  realities  of  the  invisible  world.  O  pour 
out  thy  spirit  upon  me.  In  thee  do  I  trust; 
let  me  never  be  confounded.     And  if  it  should 


38       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY, 

please  thee  to  cause  me  to  walk  in  darkness 
all  my  days,  and  to  see  but  a  glimmering  of 
the  heavenly  glory,  yet  enable  me  to  trust  in 
the  Lord  and  stay  upon  my  God. 

"  When  I  review  my  past  life  and  consider 
my  backslidings,  I  am  filled  with  shame  and 
confusion  of  face.  I  feel  that  it  is  impossible 
for  me  to  keep  myself  in  the  way  in  which  I 
should  go,  and  that  it  is  God  alone  who  can  pre- 
serve my  heart  from  straying  from  him,  keep 
my  feet  from  falling  and  my  soul  from  death. 
O  Lord,  my  righteousness  and  strength,  pre- 
serve me  from  backsliding  any  more.  Keep 
me  near  to  thee.  Enable  me  to  glorify  thee 
in  my  body  and  spirit,  while  I  remain  on  the 
earth,  and  when  I  go  hence,  receive  that 
crown  of  glory  which  is  prepared  for  all  those 
who,  through  faith  and  patience,  endure  unto 
the  end  ! 

"  Ascend  my  soul,  in  heavenly  praise, 
To  God  who  hath  preserved  thy  days ; 
And  brought  thee  to  this  present  hour. 
By  his  sustaining,  wond'rous  power. 
But  bid  thy  higliest  strains  ascend, 
That  He  who  is  the  sinner's  friend. 
Has  made  thy  blindness  pass  away. 
And  bid  thee  view  an  endless  day, 
Through  his  eternal  spirit  given. 
To  conquer  sin  and  lead  to  heaven." 

The  preceding  sketch  bears  date  July,  1812, 
four  years  after  the  death  of  her  venerated  and 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       89 

beloved  father,  and  when  she  herself  had 
reached  her  thirty-fifth  year.  It  may  be  gath- 
ered from  her  writings,  that  such  a  view  of 
God's  dealings  with  her  might  be  made  useful 
to  her  own  soul.  She  expresses  the  desire 
that  she  "  might  often  read  it ;  compare  her 
present  state  with  what  is  here  written,  and 
be  enabled  to  perceive  whether  she  had  made 
any  progress  in  the  heavenly  road."  The 
writer  had  then  been  her  pastor  but  two  short 
years ;  she  had  expressed  the  greatest  defer- 
ence for  his  opinions,  the  most  delicate  atten- 
tion to  his  comfort  and  that  of  his  family,  a 
scrupulous  respect  for  his  character,  and  a  stu- 
dious care  to  promote  his  usefulness.  She  had 
always  greeted  him  with  a  smile,  and  at  the 
close  of  the  labors  of  the  Sabbath,  usually  en- 
couraged him  by  some  kind  expression  of  her 
approbation  of  his  labors.  But  he  was  not 
then  sensible  of  the  excellence  of  her  charac- 
ter. Sweet  as  her  piety  then  was,  it  was  but 
the  hour  of  twilight  in  her  spiritual  hemisphere. 
Her  light  was  dawning ;  and  though  the  boun- 
daries between  the  past  and  the  present  could 
not  be  distinctly  marked,  her  path  was  grow- 
ing brighter  and  brighter.  In  the  year  1818, 
she  writes  as  follows  : — 

"  Six  years  have  now  elapsed  since  the  fore- 
going sketch  was  written,  and  I  have  abundant 


40       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

cause,  on  perusing  it,  to  offer  my  sincere 
thanksgiving  and  praise  that  God  has  con- 
tinued to  me  his  great  mercy  and  loving  kind- 
ness, and  enabled  me  to  see  more  and  more 
the  necessity  of  coming  out  from  the  world, 
and  being  separate,  in  order  to  obtain  the 
adoption  of  children.  Thanks  to  the  precious 
Saviour,  I  have  been  withheld  from  the  vain, 
soul-distracting  amusements  of  the  world,  and 
my  eyes  have  been  enlightened  to  behold  that 
glory  which  excelleth,  and  which  puts  out  the 
glory  of  these  lower  scenes.  May  my  spiritual 
vision  be  daily  more  clear,  that  in  thus  behold- 
ing the  glory  of  my  Saviour,  I  maybe  changed 
into  the  same  image,  from  glory  to  glory,  even 
as  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  !  O  may  thy  grace 
accompany  me  through  my  earthly  pilgrimage, 
and  when  the  summons  to  depart  and  cross 
over  Jordan  shall  be  given,  may  I  behold  the 
Ark  of  the  Covenant  in  the  midst  of  the  cold 
waters,  and  fearlessly  step  in,  comforted  by 
those  words.  Fear  not,  for  I  am  with  thee  ;  he  not 
dismayed,  for  I  am  thy  God.  I  will  bear  thee 
through,  and  bring  thee  to  the  shores,  where 
the  inhabitant  shall  no  more  say  I  am  sick, 
where  sorrow  and  sighing  shall  flee  away, 
where  the  walls  are  salvation  and  the  gates 
praise,  and  the  city  shall  have  no  need  of  the 
sun  nor  of  the  moon  to  enlighten  it,  for  God  is 
the  light  thereof,  and  the  Lamb  its  glory." 


CHAPTER    III. 


THE    CHARACTER    OF    HER    RELIGION. 


"  The  cross  my  all, 
My  theme,  my  inspiration,  and  my  crown." 


We  are  not  able  to  furnish  a  more  detailed 
narrative  of  Miss  Murray's  early  religious  ex- 
ercises than  is  furnished  in  the  preceding  chap- 
ter. To  the  consistency,  firmness,  spirituality, 
and  meekness  of  her  Christian  course,  rnulti- 
tudes  bear  witness ;  and  time,  that  great  test 
of  integrity,  substantiates  their  testimony.  The 
peculiar  spirit  and  duties  of  piety,  expressed 
in  some  of  the  domestic  relations,  she  was 
never  called  to  cultivate  ;  yet,  save  the  im- 
perfections which  cleave  to  all  the  people  of 
God,  was  there  nothing  wanting  in  her  re- 
ligious character,  which  evangelical  views,  a 
meek  and  quiet  spirit,  and  a  holy  example  are 
called  to  express  amid  the  spoliations  of  sin 
and  death. 

Her  piety  possessed  highly  important  char- 
acteristics. It  was  intelligent  without  being 
speculative ;    it   was    discriminatimg   without 


42  MEMOIR    OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

bigotry.  It  was  founded  on  God's  truth,  and 
while  it  was  generous  and  charitable,  it  was 
at  a  ffreat  remove  from  that  fashionable  and 
false  liberality,  which  never  distinguishes  be- 
tween the  precious  and  the  vile,  and  which  is 
no  better  than  indifference  to  the  claims  of 
true  godliness.  She  cared  as  little  for  denom- 
inational distinctions  and  unessential  peculi- 
arities as  any  Christian  living ;  she  revolted 
from  that  spirit  of  exclusiveness  which  is  the 
prominent  feature  of  some  departments  of  the 
church  of  God ;  but  she  had  an  eye  quick  to 
discern  the  form  from  the  power  of  godliness, 
and  a  heart  that  felt  deeply  and  mourned  bit- 
terly over  all  departures  from  the  faith  as  it  is 
in  Jesus.  "  I  am  often  struck,"  she  says, 
"  with  the  blindness  and  stupidity  of  the  world 
that  lieth  in  wickedness ;  but  more  struck 
with  the  inconsistencies  of  Christians.  O  how 
unworthily  do  they  who  profess  to  be  the  dis- 
ciples of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  to  have  renounced 
the  world,  walk  of  their  vocation  !  How  do 
they  wound  their  own  consciences  by  their 
sinful  compliance  with  the  world  and  its  max- 
ims !  O  may  I  have  grace  and  courage  given 
to  me  to  manifest  myself  on  the  Lord's  side. 
Take  from  me  the  fear  of  man,  and  give  me 
boldness  in  thy  cause  !  Blessed  Jesus,  let 
me  never  deny  thee  before  men,  but  ever 
confess  that  thou  art  my  strength  and  salva- 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       43 

tion,  my  King  and  my  God !  Teach  me  to 
know  my  own  heart,  and  in  thee  find  strength, 
peace,  and  joy."  That  some  whom  the  world 
judge  to  be  the  people  of  God,  and  who  are 
supposed  to  die  the  death  of  the  righteous, 
she  looked  upon  as  his  enemies,  and  dying 
without  hope,  is  mournfully  and  truthfully  ex- 
pressed in  the  following  lines  from  her  pen. 
"  This  day,  on  returning  from  church,  my 
feelings  were  greatly  shocked  by  hearing  of 
the  death  of  A.  B.,  taken,  I  suppose,  from 
everything  that  is  desirable  to  the  carnal 
heart,  without  one  moment  to  prepare  for  the 
eternal  world.  O  what  an  awful  considera- 
tion that  he  was  thus  instantaneously  removed 
from  all  the  joys  which  this  world  could  give, 
to  eternal  misery  !  For,  even  in  the  judgment 
of  charity,  we  can  hope  for  no  better  things. 
May  it  lead  his  family  to  repentance  !"  She 
had  no  fellowship  with  religions  that  are  rad- 
ically false ;  she  regarded  them  as  subversive 
of  the  gospel  of  Christ — "  another  gospel" — and 
with  all  the  delicacy  of  her  feelings,  and  the 
urbanity  of  her  deportment,  she  was  con- 
strained to  say,  "  My  soul,  come  not  thou  into 
their  secret;  unto  their  assembly,  mine  honor 
be  not  thou  united  !"  For  several  years  of  her 
life,  she  had  an  extensive  acquaintance  with 
Unitarians,  and  none  know  better  than  they, 
her  utter  dissent  from  their  principles.     Occa- 


44       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

sionally  adverting  to  this  subject  in  her  man- 
uscripts, she  says,  "  True  it  is,  '  there  shall  be 
false  teachers  among  you,  denying  the  Lord 
that  bought  them.'  At  this  day  is  this  pro- 
phecy most  remarkably  fulfilled.  The  land  is 
filled  with  this  awful  sin.  They  would  tear 
the  crown  from  the  head  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  by 
depriving  Him  of  his  glory  as  God ;  they 
would  bring  Him  to  a  level  with  themselves. 
They  would  take  from  the  believer  his  only 
hope,  by  taking  that  away  which  gives  effi- 
cacy to  His  sacrifice.  O  teach  me,  that  in 
Him  dwelleth  all  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead  j 
make  me  feel  that  my  Redeemer  is  God  man- 
ifest in  the  flesh.  I  humbly  pray  that  thou 
would  est  preserve  me  from  this  awful  error ; 
make  the  Lord  Jesus  more  precious  to  my 
soul,  and  enable  me  to  rest  upon  Him,  as 
Jehovah,  my  righteousness !"  Truth  was 
dear  to  her.  Man's  native  sinfulness  and  his 
total  depravity  ;  the  spirituality,  purity,  and 
binding  force  of  the  law^  of  God,  the  true  and 
proper  divinity  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the 
necessity  and  reality  of  His  sacrifice  and  right- 
eousness, the  efficiency  and  sovereignty  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  in  the  great  work  of  regeneration 
and  sanctification,  the  free  and  unembarrassed 
offers  of  the  gospel  to  all,  and  the  duty  of  all 
to  accept  this  salvation,  the  necessity  of  per- 
sonal holiness  to  the  justified,  and  the  everlast- 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       45 

inff  retribution  both  of  the  riofhteoiis  and  the 
wicked,  are  doctrines  that  were  dear  to  her 
heart,  which  promoted  her  spiritual  edifica- 
tion, by  which  she  lived,  recommended  the 
religion  of  Christ  to  the  world,  and  led  others 
to  glorify  her  Father  who  is  in  heaven. 

There  is  no  truth  of  which  she  was  more 
deeply  impressed  than  the  deep  depravity  of 
the  human  heart,  and  the  great  doctrine  of 
redemption  by  Christ.  Her  Diary  is  full  of 
these  truths.  To  present  her  views  in  her 
own  language,  would  require  a  distinct  vol- 
ume. Bitter,  most  bitter  are  her  complaints 
of  the  desperate  wickedness  of  her  own 
heart.  She  often  repeats  the  thought,  that  "  if 
men  saw  their  great  wickedness  and  how 
they  were  at  enmity  with  God,  they  would 
no  longer  wonder  that  they  must  be  born 
again  if  they  would  enter  into  his  kingdom. 
Her  reflections  in  view  of  the  communion 
table,  at  the  table  and  afterwards,  are  as  dis- 
tinguished for  self-abasing  view^s  of  herself, 
as  of  adoring  views  of  her  Saviour.  In  one 
place  she  says,  "  The  description  wiiicli  the 
Scriptures  give  of  the  heart  of  man,  I  be- 
lieve, not  only  because  God  has  uttered  it,  but 
because  I  feel  it,  and  have  daily  reason  to 
mourn  over  it."  Again  she  says,  "  Whatever 
engaging  qualities  or  virtues  the  natural  man 
may  possess,  he  can  do  nothing  that  is  accept- 


46       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

able  to  God,  because  his  heart  is  enmity  itself 
against  him;  and  however  praiseworthy  and 
holy  he  may  appear  in  the  sight  of  men,  he  is 
wholly  polluted  and  abominable  in  the  sight 
of  God."  Again  she  says,  "  O  who  has  ever 
discovered  the  whole  of  his  corruptness!  who 
has  ever  dived  to  the  bottom  of  this  sink  of 
pollution !" 

The  distinctness  of  her  views  in  regard  to 
the  way  of  salvation  by  Christ,  is  thus  ex- 
pressed with  sweet  simplicity.  The  text  she 
had  been  contemplating  was  the  sprinkling  of 
the  blood  of  the  Paschal  Lamb. 


Grant,  gracious  God,  that  I  may  feel 
A  sweet  reliance  on  thy  word ; 

That  I  may  have  the  Spirit's  seal, 
To  mark  me  one  of  thine,  0  Lord. 

0  may  I  live  by  faith  alone, 

Upon  the  precious  Son  of  God ; 

"Who  left  his  ever  glorious  throne. 
And  on  our  sinful  earth  abode. 

That  in  his  body  he  might  bear 

Our  sins,  and  our  iniquities  ; 
And  from  his  cross  to  all  declare 

The  truth  and  justice  of  God's  ways. 

And  this  great  sacrifice  once  made. 

His  precious,  cleansing  blood  once  spilt, 

God's  love  and  justice  are  displayed. 
In  passing  by  the  sinner's  guilt. 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.        47 

Thus  weary  souls,  by  strong  belief, 

In  what  their  gracious  Lord  hath  done, 

Will  always  find  their  sweet  relief 
In  God's  coequal,  glorious  Son. 


She  was  habitually  filled  with  hope,  and 
peace,  and  joy  in  believing ;  yet  she  was  not 
presumptuous,  but  faithful  in  the  duty  of  self- 
inspection,  and  in  trying  her  own  heart.  There 
cannot  be  greater  evidence  of  this  fact  than  is 
furnished  by  the  following  extract  from  her 
private  papers. 

"  In  God's  presence,  I  desire  to  answer  the 
following  questions,  and  to  answer  them  in 
the  sincerity  of  my  heart. 

"  Question  First:  Do  I  make  the  approba- 
tion of  God,  or  the  applause  of  men,  the  very 
end  and  main  design  of  my  religious  perform- 
ances ?  Will  the  acceptance  of  my  duties 
with  them  satisfy  me,  whether  God  accepts 
my  duties  and  person,  or  not  1 

"•  I  trust  I  can  most  sincerely  say,  that  the 
approbation  of  my  gracious  God  is  the  supreme 
desire  of  my  soul ;  and  that  without  this,  the 
praise  of  men  would  be  nothing  and  vanity — 
would  inflict  a  wound,  rather  than  prove  bahii 
to  my  heart.  Help  me  to  search  myself  with 
diligence,  and  to  examine  myself  with  the 
severest  scrutiny,  that  I  may  not  be  deceived 


48        MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

in   this   all-important   point    of    my  spiritual 
standing. 

"  Question  Second  :  Is  it  the  reproach  and 
shame  that  now  attend  sin,  and  the  danger 
and  misery  that  will  follow  it  hereafter,  that 
restrain  me  from  the  commission  of  it  ?  or  is 
it  the  fear  of  God  in  my  soul,  and  the  hatred 
of  sin,  as  sin  ? 

"God  knows  my  heart,  and  whether  I  de- 
ceive myself  or  no,  when  I  express  the  belief 
that  it  is  his  fear  within  me,  and  because  sin 
is  t^iat  evil  and  bitter  thing  which  he  hateth, 
that  I  am  restrained  from  it;  that  when  I  com- 
mit it,  I  grieve  over  it,  as  a  transgression  of 
his  holy  law,  and  a  thing  that  defiles  me  in 
his  sight ;  and  because  it  shuts  out  the  light 
of  his  countenance  from  me,  and  causes  me 
great  heaviness  of  heart  on  account  of  his 
displeasure.  O  enable  me  continually  to  flee 
to  the  blood  of  sprinkling  that  I  may  be 
cleansed  from  this  pollution  ! 

"  Question  Third  :  Can  I  truly  and  heartily 
rejoice  to  see  God's  work  carried  on  in  the 
world,  and  his  glory  promoted  by  other  hands, 
though  I  have  no  share  in  the  credit  and  honor 
of  it? 

"  Yes,  Lord,  most  sincerely  do  I  rejoice 
when  thy  cause  prospers  in  the  earth ;  and 
most  sincerely  do  I  love  those  whom  thou  art 
pleased  to  honor  as  instruments  in  promoting 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       49 

the  great  work  of  the  salvation  of  sinners. 
Yet  I  do  desire  to  be  ready  to  co-operate  with 
thee,  if  thou  shouldest  see  fit  to  appoint  to  me 
any  portion  of  labor  in  bringing  about  anything 
thou  hast  proposed  for  thine  own  glory,  and 
the  salvation  of  precious  and  immortal  souls. 

"  Question  Fourth  :  Is  there  no  religious 
duty  so  full  of  difficulty  and  self-denial,  but  I 
desire  to  perform  it ;  and  is  all  the  holy  and 
good  will  of  God  acceptable  to  me  though  I 
cannot  rise  up  with  like  readiness  to  the  per- 
formance of  all  ? 

"  No ;  there  is  no  duty  I  do  not  desire  to 
comply  with.  There  are  some  against  which 
the  flesh  makes  powerful  resistance ;  and  un- 
less I  have  greater  strength  than  my  own,  the 
flesh  will  prevail  over  the  spirit.  Hast  thou 
not  promised  grace  to  help  in  the  hour  of 
need  ?  Hast  thou  not  said,  '  Seek  and  ye  shall 
find  V  And  shall  I  doubt  thy  word  ?  God 
forbid  !  Unto  thee  will  I  look,  and  I  shall 
never  be  confounded.  The  commandment  is 
holy,  just,  and  good. 

"  Question  fifth.  Am  I  resolved  to  fol- 
low Christ  and  holiness,  at  all  seasons;  and 
however  the  aspect  of  the  times  may  frown 
upon  religion  ?  or  do  I  carry  myself  so  way- 
wardly  and  covertly  as  to  shun  all  hazards; 
having  a  secret  reserve  in  my  heart  to  launch 
out  no  further  than  I  may  return  with  safety  ? 

3 


50       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

This  is  contrary  to  the  practice  and  resolution 
of  upright  souls. 

"  I  do  resolve  to  follow  Christ  at  all  times. 
It  is  the  sincere  desire  of  my  heart  so  to  do. 
But  I  know  the  weakness,  and  fear  the  deceit- 
fulness  of  my  heart,  and  tremble  lest  in  the 
hour  of  temptation  I  should  turn  back  to  per- 
dition. Increase  my  faith ;  invigorate  my 
graces,  and  enable  me  to  go  forth  in  thy 
strength,  that  at  what  time  I  am  afraid  I  may 
trust  in  thee,  and  not  fear  what  man  can  do 
unto  me !  I  have  no  reserve,  but  would  be 
wholly  thine;  to  walk  as  becometh  one  who 
has  named  the  name  of  Christ,  and  so  conduct 
myself  that  those  who  see  may  take  note  of 
me  that  I  have  been  with  Jesus. 

"  Question  sixth  :  Do  I  make  no  conscience 
of  committing  secret  sins,  or  of  neglecting  se- 
cret duties  1  or  am  I  conscientious  both  in  the 
one  and  in  the  other,  according  to  the  rules 
and  patterns  of  integrity  ? 

"  If  I  know  myself,  the  commission  of  secret 
sins,  or  the  neglect  of  secret  duties,  gives  me 
more  pain  than  those  faults  which  appear  to 
the  view  of  man,  because  I  feel  them  as  com- 
mitted against  a  pure  and  holy  God,  who  can- 
not look  upon  iniquity.  O  keep  my  conscience 
tender  before  thee  !  Let  no  one  sin  pass  un- 
reproved  by  this  faithful  monitor.  Give  me  a 
watchful  and  prayerful    disposition  of  heart. 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L,  MURRAY,  51 

that  I  may  detect  the  first  risings  of  sin  within 
my  soul,  and  flee  to  Jesus,  deeply  sensible  that 
if  he  wash  me  not,  I  have  no  part  in  him." 

Frequent  self-inspection  like  this  cannot  fail 
of  its  recompense,  whether  it  be  in  the  detec- 
tion of  false  hopes,  or  in  furnishing  satisfactory 
evidence  of  true  faith.  How  many  things  are 
suggested  for  spiritual  improvement  in  such  a 
train  of  thought !  How  often  in  such  seasons 
of  self-examination,  have  the  minds  of  God's 
people  fresh  discoveries  of  their  own  sinfulness 
and  their  Redeemer's  grace ;  how  often  do  they 
become  familiarized  with  richer  varieties  of  his 
truth,  while  their  hearts  burn  within  them  as 
he  talks  with  them  by  the  way.  How  often 
are  they  thus  directed  and  assisted  in  their 
future  course ;  and  instead  of  ministering  to 
their  pride  and  self-complacency,  how  often 
do  such  seasons  fill  them  with  a  deeper  hu- 
miliation before  God,  and  stimulate  them,  as 
they  did  her,  to  a  renewed  application  to  the 
blood  of  sprinklitig,  that  while  they  there  ob- 
tain peace  of  conscience,  they  may  be  brought 
to  be  more  watchful,  feel  more  their  depend- 
ence, and  become  more  devoted  to  the  divine 
glory. 

The  reflections  of  our  departed  friend,  at  the 
close  of  this  review,  deserve  to  be  recorded. 
Thev   are    contained   in  the  following   brief 


52       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

prayer.  "  Adored  be  thy  name,  O  Lord,  that 
thou  hast  been  pleased  to  vouchsafe  me  com- 
fort in  this  examination  of  my  heart !  Espe- 
cially as  it  is  in  view  of  sitting  down  at  the 
table  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  which  he  spreads  only 
for  his  dear  children,  whom  he  hath  purchased 
by  his  precious  blood,  and  whom  he  will  make 
kings  and  priests  unto  God  and  his  Father !  O 
search  me  by  thy  Spirit,  as  the  candle  of  the 
Lord  searcheth  the  inward  parts  !  Discover 
to  me  every  hidden  iniquity,  that  it  may  be 
brought  forth.  Let  me  not  deceive  myself, 
and  only  possess  the  hope  of  the  hypocrite, 
which  shall  perish  when  God  taketh  away  the 
soul !  Give  me  the  hope  which  is  as  an  anchor 
of  the  soul,  sure  and  stedfast,  and  which  enter- 
eth  into  that  which  is  within  the  vail ;  the  hope 
which  shall  be  swallowed  in  the  vision  of  my 
Lord  and  Saviour,  who  is  God  over  all  blessed 
forevermore,  and  to  whom  is  due  all  honor, 
glory,  and  power,  world  without  end.  Amen." 

"  Descend  blest  Spirit,  and  direct  my  thoughts 
To  things  of  high  and  holy  import ;  things 
Belonging  to  the  precious,  deathless  soul — 
The  everlasting  part  of  mortal  man, 
And  man  immortal — God's  profoundest  work. 
Guide  me  to  pungent  searchings  of  the  heart. 
And  trial  of  the  reins.     Uncover  all 
The  subtle  wickedness  which  lies  concealed 
From  every  eye  but  thine  all  penetrating. 
0  grant  that  I  may  see  me  as  I  am ; 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.        53 

The  head  all  sick,  the  conscious  heart  all  faint, 
By  reason  of  the  universal  sway 
Of  sin  within,  there  lurking  like  a 
Wily  serpent,  watching  occasion  fit 
To  dash  his  venom'd  fangs  deep  in  those  parts 
Most  apt  for  the  assault,  and  most  exposed. 
O  that  this  awful  truth  may  strike  my  mind 
With  urgent  power !  drive  me  far  out  from  self. 
And  haste  my  flight  to  Him  whose  arm  alone 
Can  strike  this  soul-destroying  reptile  dead, 
And  snatch  me  from  the  pit  of  endless  woe. 

Oh  !  blessed  Jesus,  may  I  look  to  thee, 
Expiring  on  the  cross  for  guilty  man ; 
Behold  thy  side  pour  forth  the  heaUng  stream, 
And  smite  my  breast,  and  cry  with  humble  heart, 
0  Lord,  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner  ! 
And  safe  beneath  the  shadow  of  thy  wings. 
Enclosed  within  the  everlasting  arms. 
No  longer  trusting  to  myself,  but  thee. 
Upon  thy  faithful  bosom  may  I  rest, 
Made  more  than  conqueror,  o'er  death  and  sin, 
Inheriting  a  crown  of  endless  hfe  !" 

Yet  with  all  this  self-inspection  and  distrust 
she  was  a  most  happy  Christian  ;  more  uni- 
formly happy  than  the  great  mass  of  Christ's 
disciples.  Her  views  were  bright,  her  emo- 
tions joyous,  and  her  duties,  so  far  from  being 
irksome,  seemed  always  pleasant,  and  not  the 
less  so  when  they  demanded  persevering 
effort,  and  cost  her  no  small  degree  of  self- 
denial.  The  kingdom  of  God  in  her,  and  to 
her,  w^as  not  "  meat  and  drink,  but  righteous- 
ness, and  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost." 


54  MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY, 

Religion  did  not  make  her  gloomy.  She  never 
felt  that  to  live  for  God  and  heaven,  she  must 
take  a  formal  leave  of  joy.  "  To  be  a  Chris- 
tian," she  says,  "  is  the  highest  blessedness  a 
mortal  can  arrive  at.  It  is  to  call  God  his  Father. 
It  is  to  be  reconciled  to  him  through  the  death 
of  his  Son.  It  is  to  enjoy  his  protection  and 
favor,  and  have  access  to  him  in  every  trial. 
It  comforts  him  in  sorrow,  makes  all  his  bed 
in  his  sickness,  and  prepares  him  to  die  in  tri- 
umph when  the  Master  calls.  It  enables  him 
to  rejoice  in  the  hope  of  his  glory,  and  secures 
to  him  an  inheritance  incorruptible,  undefiled, 
and  that  fadeth  not  away."  In  more  than 
twenty  densely-written  volumes  of  manu- 
scripts, there  is  to  be  found  scarcely  a  pensive 
thought,  save  in  her  reflections  upon  the  death 
of  some  beloved  friend,  ot  the  languid  state  of 
the  church  of  God.  There  is  scarcely  a  line 
of  her  sacred  poetry  that  breathes  a  pensive 
spirit.     It  is  rather  in  such  strains  as  these : 

"  Give  me  a  holy,  simple  frame, 
A  heart  prepared  for  heaven, 
A  tongue  to  praise  thy  glorious  name. 
And  sing  of  sins  forgiven. 

"  A  soul  enlarg'd  with  Jesus'  love. 
And  sprinkled  with  his  blood, 
Array'd  to  join  the  saints  above. 
In  worship  to  my  God. 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       55 

"  Where  all  is  light,  and  life,  and  joy, 
Where  peace  forever  reigns. 
Where  endless  praise  is  the  employ, 
^  Throughout  the  heavenly  plains." 

Sometimes  she  writes  as  follows  :  "  This 
day  my  soul  has  been  subdued,  and  my  mind 
overwhelmed  with  a  sense  of  the  infinite  per- 
fections of  God.  I  have  in  a  measure  felt  and 
realized  jiiy  own  insignificance  as  a  creature, 
and  my  vileness  as  a  sinner,  and  have  been 
lost  and  amazed  in  the  contemplation  of  the 
glorious  Being  and  Eternity  of  the  Alpha  and 
Omega,  the  beginning  and  the  end  of  all 
things."  Then  on  the  next  page  she  drops, 
her  narrative,  and  sings, 

"  Arise  my  soul,  and  wing  thy  flight 
To  regions  pure  and  blest, 
Where  dwells  in  everlasting  light, 
My  Saviour  God  confess'd. 

"  There  may  I  time  my  harp  of  gold. 
And  chaunt  my  heavenly  strain. 
And  joy  that  not  the  half  was  told, 
Of  Him  who  once  was  slain. 

"  0  glorious  prospect,  blessed  hope  ! 
Which  bears  my  fainting  spirit  up. 
Which  takes  the  ills  of  life  away. 
And  points  to  everlasting  day  !'* 

Then  again  she  utters  such  triumphant 
thoughts  as  these  : — "  I  will  praise  thee  while 
I  have  my  breath.     Thou  hast  dealt  bounti- 


56  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

fully  with  me ;  thou  hast  put  gladness  in  my 
heart,  more  than  when  the  oil  and  wine  of  the 
wicked  are  increased !  Thou  hast  been  pleased 
to  make  me  the  instrument  of  good,  and  my 
soul  is  made  to  rejoice.  Bless  the  Lord,  O 
my  soul!  and  all  that  is  within  me,  bless 
his  holy  name  !  When  God  gives  peace,  who 
shall  give  trouble.  Who  is  a  God  like  unto 
thee,  that  pardoneth  iniquity  and  passeth  by 
the  transgression  of  the  remnant  of  his  heri- 
tage, and  retaineth  not  his  anger  forever,  be- 
cause he  delighteth  in  mercy !  The  Lord 
reigneth,  let  the  earth  rejoice.  In  thee  will  I 
trust,  and  shall  never  be  confounded.  The 
Lord  is  my  shepherd,  I  shall  not  want.  He  is 
my  high  tower  and  the  rock  of  my  salvation. 
I  shall  be  safe  ;  he  is  my  righteousness  and 
strength,  therefore  I  shall  not  come  into  con- 
demnation.    Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul !" 

Even  pensive  scenes  were  gilded  by  her 
hopeful  mind  with  peace  and  joy.  The  fol- 
lowing are  her  reflections  on  the  death  of  her 
beloved  friend.  Miss  Ann  Eustick :  "  The 
friend  of  my  youth  is  gone  ;  she  with  whom  I 
have  often  taken  sweet  counsel ;  who  wept 
with  me  when  I  wept,  and  who  rejoiced  with 
me  when  I  rejoiced;  and  whose  heart  was  one 
with  mine.  But  shall  I  murmur !  Shall  I 
grieve,  that  she  is  freed  from  the  clogs  of  earth, 
and  treads  the  streets  of  the  heavenly  city  ? 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       57 

Rather  let  me  follow  hard  after  her,  who, 
through  faith  and  patience,  inherits  the  prom- 
ises. 

"  Why  should  I  mourn,  that,  throned  in  bliss, 
She  dwells  amid  the  upper  skies ! 
Why  weep,  when  perfect  blessedness 
Attends  her  spirit  as  it  flies ! 

"  There  robed  in  garments  dazzling  white. 
The  palm  of  triumph  in  her  hand. 
She  bows  before  that  throne  of  light, 
Round  which  the  flaming  seraphs  stand. 

"  Now  all  the  sorrows  of  lier  life 
Seem  but  the  tokens  of  His  love, 
Who  bore  for  her  the  bitter  strife 
That  she  might  ever  rest  above, 

"  And  sing  throughout  an  endless  day. 
Loud  Allelujahs  to  the  Lamb, 
Who  washed  her  sins  and  stains  away, 
And  marked  her  with  His  glorious  name." 

In  the  early  part  of  this  memoir,  allusion 
was  made  to  a  thought  which  she  sometimes 
uttered,  that  "  she  should  almost  think  it  a 
waste  of  time  to  sleep  without  dreaming." 
It  is  a  delightful  indication  of  her  piety,  that 
the  religious  enjoyments  of  her  waking  hours 
were  not  absent  from  her  dreams.  Her  surviv- 
ing sister  remarks,  that,  "  from  a  number  of 
sweet  dreams  she  related  to  me,  I  believe  she 
often  had  nearer  access  to  God  when  thus  ab- 
stracted from  the  body,  than  in  her  waking 

3* 


58       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

hours."  We  may  be  indulged  in  introducing 
two  or  three  instances  which  illustrate  this 
agreeable  state  of  mind.  On  entering  the 
parlor  one  morning,  she  said,  smiling,  "I  have 
been  preaching  last  night  for  Dr.  S. ;  and  I 
wish  I  could  exhort  as  well  when  I  ought  to 
do  it  in  reality."  At  another  time,  she  said, 
"  I  dreamed  last  night  that  I  was  invited  to 
preach  in  the  old  Dutch  Church.  It  troubled 
me  greatly  at  first,  and  I  thought  it  impossible 
to  comply  with  the  request.  But  on  further 
reflection,  deeming  it  my  duty,  and  thinking 
that  very  few  persons  there  would  know  me, 
I  was  induced  to  consent.  And  I  thought  I 
experienced  wonderful  enlargement  both  in 
preaching  and  prayer.  And  when  I  was  in- 
formed that  much  good  resulted  from  my  re- 
luctant labors,  I  felt  rewarded  for  the  self- 
denial  I  had  practiced."  Her  diary  records 
several  instances  of  the  same  general  kind. 
In  another  place  she  whites,  "  Last  night,  when 
sleep  had  excluded  all  outward  objects,  I 
dreamed  that  having  some  duty  to  perform  in 
the  church,  in  the  performance  of  which  I  was 
extremely  exhausted,  and  finding  no  place  for 
repose,  I  was  invited  by  one  to  go  with  him 
where  I  should  be  sure  to  find  good.  On  com- 
plying with  the  invitation,  I  soon  found  myself 
at  the  threshold  of  a  door  upon  wiiich  they 
were  laying  a  stone.     I  felt  a  little  timidity 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       59 

when  I  first  set  my  foot  upon  it,  as  it  did  not 
seem  perfectly  secure.  But  a  friendly  hand 
was  offered  me  saying,  Fear  not  to  enter  this 
hospitable  roof;  upon  which  I  answered  and 
said,  Yes,  and  he  thy  so7is  and  daughters.  The 
approach  was  much  encumbered  with  rubbish ; 
but  this  soon  disappeared,  and  I  was  intro- 
duced into  a  magnificent  apartment.  But 
weary  and  heavy  laden,  I  sank  upon  a  sofa, 
and  for  some  time  seemed  almost  in  an  agony. 
But  presently  the  most  delicious  refreshments 
of  the  finest  fruits  were  brought  to  me,  and 
my  spirit  revived  within  me,  and  I  felt  my 
strength  increased.  Even  in  my  sleep  I  spir- 
itualized these  things ;  and  since,  in  my  wak- 
ing hours,  my  mind  has  dwelt  agreeably  upon 
them.  It  appears  to  me  like  passing  over 
the  threshold  of  the  grave,  and  walking 
through  the  dark  valley  of  the  shadow  of 
death,  which  leads  to  those  realms  of  light 
and  bliss  where  the  trials  of  mortality  are 
over,  and  where  the  weary  find  rest ;  where 
the  Lamb  who  is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne 
wall  lead  his  people,  and  lead  them  to  living 
fountains  of  water,  and  cause  them  to  eat  of 
the  fruit  of  the  Tree  of  Life.  Though  at  first 
I  was  timid  and  afraid,  a  friendly  hand  was 
vouchsafed,  and  I  entered  with  confidence.  I 
was  refreshed,  revived,  and  strengthened.  O 
that  this  may  be  an  earnest  of  that  confidence 


60       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

and  peace,  which  my  Heavenly  Father  will 
grant  me  in  the  trying  hour,  showing  forth  his 
power  in  the  weakest  of  his  creatures  !"  At 
another  time  she  speaks  of  a  dream,  in  which 
she  had  a  personal  view  of  the  Saviour ;  was 
instructed  by  him,  and  comforted,  and  led  by 
his  gentle  hand  in  green  pastures,  and  by  the 
still  waters.  Her  mind  seemed  thus  ever  bent 
on  spiritual  things. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

EXTRACTS    FROM    HER    DIARY    AND    HER    DEVOUT 
MEDITATIONS. 

Miss  Murray  kept  a  diary,  and  also  a  book 
of  meditations  upon  religious  subjects.  The 
latter  furnishes  many  valuable  thoughts,  writ- 
ten on  particular  occasions ;  the  former  was, 
with  some  interruptions,  her  daily  employment, 
and  more  especially  that  of  every  Lord's  day, 
and  generally  consists  of  thoughts  upon  some 
selected  portion  of  the  sacred  writings.  Of 
both  of  these,  the  following  may  serve  as  a 
bare  specimen. 

"  If  any  man  will  come  after  me,  says  our 
Divine  Lord,  let  him  take  up  his  cross,  and  fol- 
low me.  Those  who  live  godly  in  Christ 
Jesus,  must  meet  the  derision  of  the  world  ; 
they  must  maintain  a  continual  warfare.  We 
should  not  wish  to  alter  the  terms  of  disciple- 
ship.  They  are  not  the  maxims  of  the  world 
that  should  govern  us.  We  must  disclaim 
them ;  we  must  silence  them ;  and  welcome 
the  laws  of  Christ.     The  work  of  self-denial 


62       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

includes  the  whole  of  practical  Christianity. 
The  cross  is  the  emblem  of  ignominy  and  suf- 
fering; it  was  so  to  the  Saviour,  it  must  be 
so  to  us.  We  must  watch,  we  must  contend, 
we  must  endure.  And  thanks  be  to  God, 
who  giveth  us  the  victory,  through  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ !" 

"  /  heard  thy  voice  in  the  garden,  and  I  was 
afraid,  because  I  was  nahed  ;  and  I  hid  myself. 
Thus  it  is  when  God  speaks  to  the  guilty  con- 
science. It  seeks  to  hide  itself,  for  fear  of  his 
just  judgments.  It  runs  from  God  when  it 
ought  to  run  to  him.  O  whither  shall  I  go 
from  thy  Spirit,  or  flee  from  thy  presence  ! 
Blessed  be  thy  name,  there  is  a  city  of  refuge, 
not  in  fleeing  from  him,  but  to  him,  and  no 
angel  sword  guards  the  entrance.  Do  thou 
grant,  that  when  I  hear  thy  voice,  I  may  not 
be  afraid,  but  come  to  thee  as  a  dutiful  child, 
repentant,  yet  hoping  in  thy  mercy." 

"  God  is  a  spirit,  and  they  that  ivorship  him 
must  worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  He 
will  not  accept  the  worship  of  the  lips,  with- 
out the  worship  of  the  heart.  He  has  said  it 
is  an  abomination.  He  cannot  be  deceived 
and  he  will  not  be  mocked.  All  the  churches 
shall  know  that  he  searcheth  the  reins  and 
trieth  the  hearts.  O  Lord,  forgive  the  sins  of 
my  holy  things  and  holy  times  !"  . 

"  Jesus  answered  him,  if  I  wash  thee  not,  thou 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       63 

hast  no  part  with  me.  Forgiveness  is  not  all 
that  Christ  bestows ;  I  must  be  cleansed  too 
by  his  atoning  blood.  He  would  not  forgive, 
but  to  redeem  a  peculiar  and  holy  people. 
He  never  saves  in  sin,  but  from  it.  O  wash 
me,  that  I  may  be  clean ;  that  I  may  walk 
with  thee  in  white,  having  my  robe  made 
white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb!" 

In  her  short  exposition  of  passages  of  scrip- 
ture, there  are  not  a  few  which  express  a  pe- 
culiar turn  of  thought ;  and  though  they  may 
not  all  bear  the  scrutiny  of  a  rigid  exegesis, 
there  are  some  among  them  that  are  worth 
transcribing.  "  WJiat  doest  thou  here,  Elijah  1 
God  often  speaks  to  me  in  this  language. 
When  I  throw  myself  into  situations  unfavor- 
able to  growth  in  grace,  I  think  I  hear  him 
saying  unto  me,  '  What  doest  thou  here  V 
When  I  am  induced  to  comply  with  the  sinful 
customs  of  the  world,  I  hear  him  saying, 
'  What  doest  thou  here  V  When  I  wander 
in  any  way  from  the  footsteps  of  the  flock, 
or  into  forbidden  pastures,  I  hear  him  say- 
ing, '  What  doest  thou  here  V  " — So  in  the 
passage,  There  shall  no  stranger  eat  thereof, 
"  This  was  God's  command  to  Moses  respect- 
ing the  passover.  In  like  manner,  now,  all 
who  are  strangers  to  God,  cannot  be  worthy 
partakers   of  Christ,  our   Passover,  who  was 


64       MEMOIR  OP  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

sacrificed  for  us."  On  the  declaration  of  God 
to  Moses,  While  my  glory  passeth  hy,  I  will 
put  thee  in  the  deft  of  the  rock,  and  I  will  cover 
thee  with  my  hand  while  I  pass  by,  she  remarks, 
"  Those  who  are  in  Christ  Jesus  can  behold 
God's  glory  and  live.  This  rock  shelters  them 
from  that  awful  display  of  the  divine  perfec- 
tions vs^hich  would  confound  and  annihilate 
them.  Here  we  behold  enough  of  them  to 
fill  us  with  joy  and  rejoicing,  and  to  lead  us  to 
look  for  the  day  when  we  shall  be  like  him, 
for  we  shall  see  him  as  he  is. 

Rock  of  Ages,  cleft  for  me, 
Let  me  hide  myself  in  thee  !" 

On  the  passage.  My  time  is  not  yet  come,  but 
yours  is  always  ready,  she  observes,  "  What 
encouragement  is  this  for  us  to  continue  ear- 
nest and  instant  in  prayer,  that  to  Him  who 
hears  prayer  our  time  is  always  ready  !  We 
must  always  pray,  and  not  faint.  The  time 
of  God  will  come,  though  it  may  not  be  when 
we  expect  it.  He  will  answer  our  prayers 
when  he  sees  it  best  for  us  and  for  his  own 
glory.  It  is  good  both  to  hope  and  quietly 
wait  for  the  salvation  of  God."  On  the  pas- 
sage, /  defy  the  armies  of  Israel  this  day,  she 
writes,  "  This  was  the  challenge  of  the  giant 
Goliath  to  the  children  of  Israel.  So  the  great 
enemy  of  souls  now  defies  the  armies  of  the 


MEMOIR  OP  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       65 

living  God,  and  many  tremble  lest  he  should 
prevail  against  them.  But  the  race  is  not  to 
the  swift,  nor  the  battle  to  the  strong.  Youth- 
ful David,  with  his  sling  and  stone  may  confi- 
dently go  to  the  combat  with  his  giant  adver- 
sary ;  but  like  him,  those  who  go  must  put  off 
the  armor  of  Saul.  Self  must  be  renounced, 
and  they  must  go  forth  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  trusting  to  his  mighty  arm  for  deliver- 
ance. They  shall  come  off  conquerors  through 
him  that  loved  them.  They  shall  never  be 
confounded,  but  shout,  The  battle  is  the  Lord's; 
thine  arm  hath  given  us  the  victory  !  Saul 
said  to  David,  Thou  art  not  able  to  go  out  and 
fight  with  this  Philistine,  for  thou  art  but  a 
youth.  True,  the  disparity  is  great,  but 
greater  is  He  that  is  for  us,  than  they  w  ho  are 
against  us.  Give  me  but  the  whole  armor  of 
God,  and  I  shall  yet  say  with  the  triumphant 
apostle,  I  have  fought  a  good  fight,  I  have 
finished  my  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith ; 
henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of 
righteousness  which  the  Lord  the  righteous 
Judge  will  give  me  at  that  day,  and  not  to  me 
only,  but  to  all  who  love  his  appearing." 
Thoughts  and  turns  of  thought  like  these,  are 
quite  characteristic  of  her  mind,  and  are  beau- 
tiful illustrations  of  its  spirituality  and  devout 
tendencies. 

There  is  one  feature  of  her  piety  that  de- 


66  MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

serves  particular  notice,  especially  in  view  of 
the  fact  that  she  was  so  extensively  and  inti- 
mately connected,  in  her  domestic  relations, 
with  the  society  of  Friends,  whose  views  of 
the  positive  institutions  of  Christianity  dif- 
fer from  our  own.  Her  attachment  to  Chris- 
tian institutions  was  ardent  and  strong.  The 
Sabbath  was  to  her  a  day  of  rest,  a  day  of  holi- 
ness, a  day  of  high  spiritual  enjoyment.'  In 
turning  over  the  pages  of  her  diary,  which 
was  continued  for  more  than  thirty  years, 
nothing  has  impressed  my  mind  more  delight- 
fully, than  her  sacred  regard  for  the  Lord's 
day.  At  home  and  abroad,  at  the  sea-side, 
amid  the  mountains,  at  the  great  watering- 
places,  and  amid  those  scenes  of  leisure  and  re- 
laxation where  so  many  professed  Christians 
dishonor  the  sacred  name  whereby  they  are 
called,  her  reverence  for  the  Sabbath  was  more 
than  respectful  and  decorous;  it  was  devout 
and  spiritual.  With  great  uniformity,  she  in- 
dulged herself  in  writing  out  the  reflections 
of  her  own  mind  with  every  returning  Day 
of  the  Son  of  Man.  Everywhere  scattered 
throughout  her  writings,  are  thoughts  of  which 
the  following  furnish  a  scanty  specimen. 

"  Often  have  I  been  ready  to  exclaim  with 
the  Psalmist,  Hoiu  amiable  are  thy  tahernades, 
0  Lord  of  hosts,  and  to  feel  that  it  was  good 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.        67 

for  me  to  have  waited  upon  God.  I  feel  these 
refresliings  as  from  God's  own  presence,  and 
delight  to  go  up  to  His  house  of  prayer. 

"  I  love  to  tread  thy  courts,  0  Lord, 
Where  all  unite  in  praise ; 
I  love  to  hear  thy  holy  word. 
My  heart  in  prayer  to  raise. 

*'  Thy  blessing  grant,  0  God  of  love, 
On  all  these  means  of  grace  ; 
And  may  my  soul  refreshings  prove, 
From  God  my  Righteousness. 

"  0  may  I  feel  the  humble  joy 
Of  many  sins  forgiven  ; 
And,  through  thy  grace,  these  days  employ, 
To  fit  my  soul  for  heaven." 

After  hearing  a  discourse  from  these  words, 
"  A  man  shall  be  an  hiding-place  from  the 
storm  and  a  covert  from  the  tempest,"  she  re- 
tired to  her  chamber  and  hastily  penned  the 
following  lines : — 

"  0  blessed  Jesus,  wilt  thou  prove, 
A  hiding-place  to  me, 
When  winds  and  wrath  from  God  above, 
Would  make  me  trembhng  flee  ? 

"  0  wilt  thou  be  my  covert.  Lord, 
When  sinful  tempests  beat; 
Teach  me  to  trust  thy  holy  word, 
And  stand  in  thee  complete  ? 

*'  0  glorious  Saviour,  by  thy  grace 
My  fainting  soul  revive  ; 
As  rivers  to  a  parched  place. 
New  strength  and  vigor  give. 


68        MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

"  And  wliile  I  journey  here  below, 

Through  this  dark  vale  of  tears, 
Thy  mighty  arms  around  me  throw, 

And  quiet  all  my  fears  : 
And  then  thy  presence  shall  be  made 
As  a  high  rock's  refreshing  shade." 

At  another  time,  she  writes  as  follows: — 
"  Keep  holy  the  Sahbath  dmj.  How  imperfectly 
is  this  command  obeyed,  even  by  God's  own 
children  !  Almost  as  soon  as  w^e  leave  thy 
temple,  the  world  occupies  our  thoughts ;  yet 
ought  we  not  think  our  own  thoughts  on  this 
holy  day.  O  that  I  may  keep  the  day  holy ; 
that  it  may  be  my  delight,  and  honorable  in 
my  eyes  !  This  morning  I  besought  the  Lord 
in  my  closet,  that  when  I  w^ent  up  to  his  house 
of  prayer,  I  might  hear  a  w^ord  in  season  to  my 
soul.  And,  blessed  be  his  name,  a  word  was 
sent  that  thrilled  through  my  heart.  I  felt 
reproached  and  condemned  :  I  saw  how  it  was 
with  me :  I  had  been  seeking  comfort,  rather 
than  humility  and  holiness.  I  thank  thee,  O 
my  Father,  for  the  privileges  of  this  Sabbath. 
May  those  who  cavil  be  brought  to  sit  humbly 
at  the  foot  of  the  cross  and  there  adore !" 

Again  she  writes  thus :  "  He  was  in  the  spirit 
on  the  Lord's  Day.  So  I  desire  to  be  found  on 
this  holy  day  ;  ready  to  do  God's  will,  and 
not  my  own.  I  would  have  my  mind  taken 
off  from  the  perishing  things  of  time  and  sense. 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.        69 

and  centred  in  Jesus,  the  perfection  of  beauty  ! 
May  I  be  prepared  by  thy  Holy  Spirit  to  go 
up  to  thine  house  of  prayer,  and  to  worship 
thee  who  art  a  spirit,  in  spirit  and  in  truth ! 
O  may  I  be  sensible  of  my  un worthiness  and 
sinfulness,  and  have  the  spirit  of  grace  and 
supplications  poured  out  upon  me,  that  I  may 
wrestle  with  thee  for  the  power  of  that  Holy 
Spirit  of  thine  to  come  down  upon  the  people, 
which  alone  can  render  ordinances  effectual !" 
In  many,  very  many  instances,  she  breathes 
forth  her  heavenly  emotions  in  strains  like 
these : — 

"  Behold  another  of  thy  days 
Has  dawned  upon  my  soul ; 
O  may  it  b-e  employed  in  praise, 
Bej'ond  the  world's  control. 

"  May  no  unhallowed  thought  intrude 
Upon  its  sacred  rest ; 
But  may  each  hour  be  spent  with  God, 
In  sweet  communion  blest. 

"  0  may  I  taste  a  Saviour's  love, 
And  in  his  presence  live. 
Anticipate  the  joys  above, 
And  praise  and  glory  give. 

"  Thus  shall  thy  sabbaths  here  below 
Prepare  my  soul  to  rise 
To  those  piu-e  strains  blest  spirits  know. 
Who  dwell  above  the  skies." 

The  character  of  a  man's  piety  depends  in 


70  MEMOIR    OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

no  small  degree  upon  the  affectionate  and 
devout  regard  he  pays  to  the  sabbath.  I  have 
never  known  an  individual,  male  or  female, 
whose  notions  and  practice  were  loose  on  this 
great  subject,  that  gave  evidence  of  fervent 
piety.  Of  all  sabbath-breakers  it  may  be  said 
with  truth,  "  Their  spot  is  not  the  spot  of 
God's  children ;"  yet  is  it  deeply  afflictive, 
and  mournfully  ominous,  that  there  are  so 
many  who,  in  the  judgment  of  charity,  must 
be  esteemed  Christians,  who,  if  a  sacred  ob- 
servance of  the  sabbath  were  the  only  proof 
of  their  piety,  are  weighed  in  the  balance  and 
found  wanting.  In  the  circles  of  fashion  and 
wealth,  like  those  occupied  by  Miss  Murray, 
a  regard  to  the  claims  of  this  holy  day,  such 
as  she  so  uniformly  manifested,  is  not  a  cir- 
cumstance of  ordinary  occurrence.  Yet  how 
lovely  the  example  !  how"  subduing,  how  at- 
tractive the  influence  !  how  sweet  the  radiance 
thrown  over  female  piety,  when  it  thus  re- 
flects the  lustre  of  the  sun  of  righteousness, 
as,  with  healing  in  his  beams,  he  rises  weekly 
on  this  cold  dark  world !  Mothers  and  their 
daughters  have  a  deep  interest,  and  they  have 
great  power  in  preserving  the  sanctity  of  the 
Christian  Sabbath. 

Her  attachment  to  the  scriptures  and  to  the 
Christian  ministry  was  not  less  exemplary.  A 
hundred  times  repeated  in  her  writings  do  I 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       71 

find  the  thought  recorded,  "  Blessed   be  thy 
name    for   a    stated   and   faithful    ministry !" 
"What  shall  I  render  unto  the  Lord,  that  he 
has  given  us  pastors  after  his  own  heart,  who 
feed  us  with  knowledge  and  understanding !" 
"  Fearful  is  the  doom  of  those  against  whom 
the  sentence  has  gone  forth,  Behold  the  days 
come,  saith  the  Lord  God,  that  I  will  send  a 
famine  in  the  land  ;  not  a  famine  of  bread,  nor 
a  thirst  for  water,  but  a  famine  of  hearing  the 
words    of    the   Lord.      What    terrible   words 
are  these,  and  what  a  pitch  of  iniquity  must 
that  people  have   reached  before  such  judg- 
ments  are   executed  upon  them !"      /  would 
rather  he  a  door-kee'per  in  the  house  of  the  Lord, 
than  dwell  in  the  tents  of  wickedness.      "  The 
meanest  place  among  the  children  of  God  is 
better  than  to  be   exalted  to  the   height  of 
worldly  grandeur.     I  am  thankful  that  I  can 
truly  unite  w  ith  the  Psalmist  in  saying,  that  I  * 
have  found  more  solid  pleasure  and  more  real 
enjoyment  in  the  service  of  God,  and  in  his 
holy  ordinances,  than  I  have  ever  found  in  all 
the  amusements  of  this  seducing  world."     On 
the  subject  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  she  writes 
as  follows  :  "  How  much  are  those  persons  the 
losers  who  neglect  to  read  the   Holy  Scrip- 
tures !     How  strange    that  those   who   thirst 
for  knowledge,  should  seek  it  everywhere  but 
in  the  very  place  where  it  is  most  certainly 


72  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

to  be  found  !  It  is  amazing  that  even  curiosity 
should  not  lead  them  to  read  God's  word; 
and  that  they  should  have  so  little  desire  to 
know  what  the  infinite  and  unerring  Intelli- 
gence reveals,  giving  us  an  account  of  the  ear- 
liest times,  and  of  creation  itself.  But  how 
much  greater  this  infatuation,  when  we  con- 
sider that  the  scriptures  disclose  truths  that 
are  able  to  make  us  wise  unto  salvation,  that 
they  reveal  the  words  of  eternal  life,  and  un- 
fold to  us  the  glory  of  God  in  the  face  of  Jesus 
Christ !  I  am  thankful  that  each  day's  study 
of  them  brings  forth  something  new  and  at- 
tractive to  my  mind.  '  Who  teacheth  like 
him  V  Do  thou,  holy  and  ever-blessed  Spirit, 
open  mine  eyes,  that  I  may  behold  wondrous 
things  out  of  thy  law  !" 

Few  Christians,  few  especially  in  the  higher 
circles  of  wealth  and  fashion,  were  more  cau- 
tious than  she  in  their  conformity  to  the  world. 
To  have  seen  her  away  from  home,  no  one 
would  have  conjectured  that  she  was  rich. 
She  was  very  far  from  entering  into  the  spirit 
of  the  world  ;  she  had  no  love  for  its  follies, 
and  no  extravagant  notions  to  gratify.  "  The 
love  of  human  grandeur  is  a  great  enemy  to 
peaceT  "  With  these  words  I  awoke  this 
morning,"  she  says,  "  and  humbly  pray  that 
the  truth  of  them  may  be  deeply  impressed  on 
my  mind.     Thou,  Lord,  not  only  puttest  words 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       73 

into  our  mouths,  but  thoughts  into  our  heads. 

0  do  thou  be  pleased  to  shoAv  me  the  vanity  of 
loving  anything  here  below  with  an  inordinate 
love.  He  who  came  down  from  heaven  took 
upon  him  the  form  of  a  servant ;  he  who  was 
rich,  for  our  sakes  became  poor.  Those  who 
had  great  possessions,  for  the  most  part  declined 
to  follow  him.  The  love  of  human  grandeur 
blinds  the  eyes,  so  that  they  cannot  behold  the 
glory  of  God,  nor  see  their  undone  state,  nor 
the  necessity  of  that  grace  by  which  alone  they 
can  be  restored  to  the  divine  favor.  O  that  I 
may  be  kept  from  this  snare  by  deep  humility 
of  soul ;  by  being  made  sensible  that  whatever 

1  possess  was  received  from  Thee  ;  that  thou 
canst  in  a  moment  take  it  from  me  ;  that  I  am 
less  than  the  least  of  all  thy  mercies,  and  that 
thou  hast  a  right  to  do  what  thou  wilt  with 
thine  own.  Make  me  thankful  that  thou  hast 
given  me  a  heart  to  use  it  to  thy  glory,  and  that 
my  soul  desireth  thee  for  her  portion  !"  Such 
thoughts  as  these  are  precious  thoughts; 
earthly  comforts  are  a  great  blessing  when 
their  possessor  is  sensible  that  they  are  held 
by  such  a  tenure,  and  for  such  ends.  She  ex- 
presses similar  views  in  some  remarks  upon 
the  words,  A?id  I  was  afraid,  and  went  and  hid  ■ 
thy  talent  in  the  earth.  How  deep  should  these 
words  sink  into  my  heart !  "  How  should  I  re- 
member in  how  rich  a  manner  God  has  blessed 

4 


74        MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

me  ill  all  temporal  things,  and  how  much  he 
has  a  right  to  expect  from  me.  My  earnest 
prayer  is  that  I  may  be  enabled  to  employ  all 
the  gifts  which  God  has  bestowed  upon  me, 
both  natural  and  adventitious,  to  his  glory,  to 
the  good  of  my  fellow-creatures,  and  the 
everlasting  benefit  of  my  own  soul !"  A  few 
pages  onward  in  the  same  volume,  she  writes, 
*'How  shall  we  sing  the  Lord's  song  in  a  strange 
la7id  ?  The  captive  Israelites  felt  that  they 
could  not  do  this  in  the  midst  of  their  ene- 
mies. This  soul-exalting  service  cannot  be  en- 
joyed in  the  midst  of  this  vain  and  dissipated 
world.  It  is  a  strange  land.  The  powers  of 
the  soul  are  weakened,  discouraged,  and  pal- 
sied by  the  seductions  of  earth.  It  is  when 
the  King  of  Zion  brings  again  the  captivity  of 
his  people,  that  they  sing  the  Lord's  song,  and 
are  enabled  to  say,  thou  hast  broken  the  bands 
of  my  enemies  asunder,  thou  hast  brought 
me  out  into  a  large  place  ;  therefore  will  I 
trust  in  Thee,  and  praise  thy  great  and  glo- 
rious name !"  Much  in  the  same  strain  are 
her  thoughts  upon  that  demand  of  the  youthful 
Jesus  to  his  Mother,  Wist  ye  not  that  I  must  he 
about  my  Father's  business  ?  "  This  furnishes 
us  with  an  answer  when  our  worldly  friends 
seek  us  in  the  haunts  of  dissipation,  and  are 
astonished  at  not  finding  us.  We  have  some- 
where else  to  go,  and  better  work  to  perform. 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  75 

It  will  not  be  long  before  we  shall  be  called 
to  our  last  account ;  nor  would  be  called  to  it 
from  those  scenes  of  gayety  where  they  seek  to 
find  us.  O  give  me  grace,  that  I  may  be  en- 
abled to  feel,  that  notwithstanding  all  the  ob- 
stacles which  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the 
devil  may  throw  in  my  way,  God  is  with  me  !" 
Very  delightful,  also,  are  her  few  and  pithy 
remarks  on  the  passage.  Lord  we  have  left  all, 
and  followed  thee.  "  And  what  did  the  Master 
say  to  this  ?  Ye  which  have  followed  me  in 
the  regeneration,  shall  sit  upon  twelve  thrones, 
judging  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel.  What  a 
glorious  recompense  for  quitting  that  which 
does  not  satisfy,  to  be  thus  exalted  to  an  ever- 
lasting throne!"  Again  she  writes,  "I  am 
afraid  of  the  influence  of  the  world  ;  for  I 
have  daily  more  deep  experience  of  the  awful 
truth,  from  what  passes  within  me,  and  from  ob- 
servation upon  those  I  behold  around  me,  that 
the  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  thi?igs,  and  despe- 
ratelij  wicked''' 


CHAPTER  V. 


HER     SACRED     HYMNS. 


"  O  Fcither,  gracious  was  that  word  which  closed 
Thy  sovereign  sentence,  that  man  should  find  grace : 
In  which  both  heaven  and  earth  shall  high  extol 
Thy  praises,  with  innumerable  sound 
Of  hymns  and  sacred  songs,  wherewith  thy  throne 
Encompassed,  shall  resound  thee  ever  blest." 


We  could  not,  without  doing  injustice  to 
the  memory  of  her  we  so  much  love,  nor  with- 
out deranging  the  order  of  her  own  devout  re- 
flections, suppress  the  insertion  of  some  of  her 
sacred  songs  in  the  course  of  the  preceding  nar- 
rative. In  our  own  judgment,  there  is  less  true 
poetnj  in  her  sacred,  than  her  miscellaneous 
writings ;  her  thoughts  expressed  in  blank 
verse,  are  quite  as  poetical  as  when  expressed 
in  the  harmonious  succession  of  sounds.  She 
evidently  penned  her  sacred  songs  with  great 
rapidity,  and  sometimes  they  evince  a  want 
of  care  in  the  composition.  We  do  not  claim 
for  her  a  place  among  the  most  distinguished 
poets.  She  never  rose  to  the  summit  of  Par- 
nassus :    nor  was  she  content   to  rove  about 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.        77 

its  base.  Her  progress  was  upward ;  the 
atmosphere  was  one  she  lov^ed  to  breathe; 
she  plucked  its  choice  flowers  and  fruits,  and 
regaled  herself  amidst  its  fragrance.  While 
the  severity  of  criticism  may  find  deficiencies 
in  her  poetry  ;  yet  the  courtesy  of  criticism 
will  find  beauties.  She  did  not  write  for  the 
public  eye;  indeed  rarely  did  she  write  for 
any  other  eye  than  her  own.  The  specimens 
of  her  poetic  talent  may  not  throw  the  reader 
into  raptures ;  yet  they  will  be  acceptable  to 
him,  as  expressions  of  an  amiable  mind,  and  a 
heart  endued  with  great  purity  and  tenderness. 
Some  of  it,  if  we  mistake  not,  deserves  a  high 
place  in  that  species  of  composition  to  which 
it  belongs.  She  wrote  too  much,  and  revised 
too  little  of  what  she  wrote.  Yet  in  some, 
even  of  her  most  hasty  effusions,  she  wrote 
with  taste  and  thought,  and  as  one  who  deeply 
felt  not  only  the  impressions  made  by  what- 
ever is  beautiful  and  great  in  nature  and  art, 
but  still  more  deeply  the  impressions  made  by 
God's  truth.  There  is  no  affectation  or  con- 
ceit about  them  ;  and  even  in  the  more  studied, 
there  is  very  little  artificial  diction.  The  fol- 
lowing specimens  will  be  valued. 


78  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.   MURRAY. 


THOUGHTS  ON  THE  PRAISE  OF  THE  UPPER  WORLD. 

"  Hark  how  they  sing  !  'tis  heaven  to  hear 
Those  strains  divine  that  strike  my  ear : 
Ye  blessed  saints  around  the  throne, 
When  shall  I  make  your  song  my  own  ? 
And  learn  that  hymn  your  voices  raise, 
To  our  belov'd  Immanuel's  praise  ? 
And  leaving  hope  and  faith,  arise 
To  blest  fruition  in  the  skies  ! 
To  be  with  God  ; — this  is  my  heaven  : 
To  feel  my  sins  are  all  forgiven ; 
To  hear  my  Saviour  call  me  his, 
This  is  indeed  celestial  bliss." 


FAITH  EXPECTING. 

"  0  for  that  faith  whiclT soars  above 

The  passing  things  of  time  and  sense  ; 
Which  centres  in  the  God  of  love, 
And  draws  enduring  comforts  thence  ! 

"  Which  pierces  through  this  veil  of  gloom. 
And  fixes  with  a  stedfast  eye 
Upon  the  glorious  world  to  come 
With  all  its  blest  reality 

"  Which  makes  the  spirit  long  to  trace 
The  trackless  paths  along  the  sky, 
To  feel  the  Saviour's  sweet  embrace. 
And  on  his  faithful  bosom  lie. 

"  There  blest  with  rapt'rous  vision  bright. 
And  full  enjoyment  of  the  Lord, 
Faith  shall  be  swallow'd  up  in  sight. 
And  God  forever  be  adored. 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  79 


GOD'S   DAY   OF   REST. 


"  This  is  the  day  the  Lord  hath  made 
Let  saints  on  earth  rejoice. 
In  Jesus'  righteousness  array'd 
To  raise  their  grateful  voice. 

"  0  Lord,  our  Father,  and  our  God, 
Thou  wilt  our  claim  allow. 
While  sprinkled  with  a  Saviour's  blood. 
Before  thy  throne  we  bow. 

"  Send  down  thy  Spirit  from  above 
To  melt  these  hearts  of  stone, 
T'  imbue  them  with  that  holy  love 
Which  fills  and  swells  thine  own. 

*'  Thy  wondrous  name  we  then  shall  praise 
That  strange  mysterious  One, 
While  our  exulting  voice  we  raise. 
To  Father,  Spirit,  Son." 


THE   GOOD   PART. 
"  To  roll  my  burdens  on  the  Lord, 
Obey  the  precepts  of  his  word, 
To  make  the  promises  my  own. 
To  live  by  saving  faith  alone. 

"  This  is  the  comfort  of  my  heart. 
This  is  that  good,  that  blessed  part 
Which  earth,  nor  hell  can  take  away, 
Which  lasts  throughout  an  endless  day." 


GOD   IN   CHRIST. 

"  Thou  art  my  God,  and  thou  my  King ; 
To  thee  I  bo\/,  of  thee  I  sing ; 


80        MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

My  soul  would  plume  her  wings,  and  fly 
To  see  thy  glorious  majesty. 

"  Thou  holy,  great,  and  perfect  One, 
Who  mak'st  eternal  light  thy  throne. 
Thou  self- existent,  happy,  blest. 
Alone  in  Jesus  art  confess 'd. 

"  In  this  sweet  name  is  all  my  hope. 
He  drank  for  me  the  bitter  cup  ; 
And  dying,  shed  his  precious  blood 
To  purify  my  soul  for  God. 

"  Spirit  of  grace,  descend  and  dress 
My  soul  in  Jesus'  righteousness. 
That  thus  complete  in  faith  and  love, 
I  may  ascend  to  joys  above." 


THE   WOMAN    WHO   WAS   A    SINNER. 

"  Behold  the  sinner,  Mary,  now. 
Before  her  gracious  Saviour  bow. 
Low  on  the  earth  the  suppliant  lies. 
Her  bosom  heaving  with  its  sighs. 

"  She  bathes  with  her  repentant  tears 
His  feet,  and  wipes  them  with  her  hairs ; 
Her  soul  flows  out  in  melting  love, 
While  Jesus  bids  her  sins  remove. 

"  Lord,  let  me  hear  thy  cheering  voice. 
Go,  daughter  ;  be  at  peace  ;  rejoice  ; 
For  I  have  made  thy  sins  depart, 
And  sanctified  thy  stubborn  heart. 

"  0  grant  that  this  rich  love  of  thine 
May  animate  and  kindle  mine ; 
Until  my  wiUing  soul  shall  be 
Devoted,  gracious  Lord,  to  thee." 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  81 

THE   CHRISTIAN'S   PANOPLY. 

"  Come,  Christian  Soldier,  take  thine  arms, 
Which  are  of  heavenly  temper  pure. 
That  thou  may'st  stand  'mid  all  alarms, 
And  fight,  of  victoiy  secure. 

"  Come,  gird  thy  loins  with  truth  about. 

And  righteousness  thy  breastplate  make  ; 
And  for  the  sandals  of  thy  feet. 
The  gospel  preparation  take. 

"  But  over  all  the  shield  of  faith 

Keep  with  a  stedfast  soul  upheld. 
That  while  thou  tread'st  this  troubled  path, 
Satan's  fierce  darts  may  be  repelled. 

"  Salvation  let  thy  helmet  be. 

And  take  the  precious  wo7-d  of  God — 
The  Spirit's  sword,  that,  used  by  thee, 
Thine  enemies  may  be  destroyed. 

"  And  with  a  watchful  spirit  pray, 
That  he  who  gives  the  victory 
Would  guard  thee  in  this  dread  aflfray, 
And  make  thee  more  than  conqueror  be." 


THOUGHTS  IN  CONSEQUENCE  OF  THE  UNLOOKED-FOR 
DEATH  OP  E.  M.  AND  HER  TWO  CHILDREN. 

"  Death  calls,  and  we  must  go,  prepared  or  not ; 
And  stand  before  thine  a^vful  presence  Lord  ; 
Awful  indeed  to  those  who  have  not  wash'd. 
Their  robes,  and  made  them  white  in  Jesus'  blood. 
Who  have  not  made  their  own  that  righteousness 
Which  justifies  the  sinner  in  thy  sight. 
And  bids  him  stand  complete  in  Christ  the  Lord. 
4* 


82  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

For  out  of  Christ  thou  art  devouring  fire 
To  all  the  proud,  rebellious  race  of  man. 
And  when  their  time  of  bitter  anguish  comes, 
Thou  who  art  seated  in  the  heavens  will  laugh, 
Mock  at  their  fears,  and  have  them  in  derision ; 
And  with  the  besom  of  destruction  sweep 
Them  and  their  fruitless  labors  from  the  earth. 
To  th'  abode  of  fiends,  to  die  the  death. 

How  mad  !  how  desp'rate  then,  our  transient  race, 
To  hurry  through  this  day  of  visitation, 
Without  a  thought  of  the  eventful  future ! 
The  soul,  absorb'd  in  pleasure's  vain  pursuit, 
Too  busy  with  its  plans  of  fleeting  life 
To  stop  and  contemplate  its  closing  scene. 
Or  glance  one  thought  toward  the  world  to  come  ! 
And  nothing  checks  this  phrenzy  of  the  mind. 
This  strange  infatuation,  but  the  dread 
Approach  of  the  last  ghastly  messenger, 
"Whose  fatal  summons  cannot  but  be  heard. 
And  must  inevitably  be  obeyed. 

But  0,  with  what  a  different  aspect  comes 
This  dreaded  foe  to  those  who  have  thro'  faith. 
Laid  hold  upon  the  Saviour's  finished  work ; 
Who  feel  that  they  are  nothing,  yet  may  come 
With  holy  boldness  to  a  throne  of  grace. 
And  plead  the  perfect  righteousness  of  Him 
Who  gave  himself  a  ransom  for  their  souls  ! 
To  such  he  wears  the  semblance  of  a  friend — 
A  kind  conductor  to  their  father's  house  ; 
And  seems  as  but  the  gate  of  endless  life. 
The  narrow  passage  to  eternal  bliss. 
0  grant,  thou  mighty  God,  that  to  my  view 
This  king  of  terrors  may  be  thus  transformed; 
And  I,  rejoicing,  sing,  0  grave,  where  is 
Thy  victory  !  0  death,  where  is  thy  sting  !" 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.  83 

THE    SABBATH. 

*•  With  joy  I  see  thy  day  return — 
This  day  of  holy  rest : 
0  may  my  soul  with  rapture  burn, 
By  thine  own  presence  blest. 

*'  May  I  ascend  thy  courts  of  praise, 
And  with  the  saints  unite, 
A  song  of  holy  love  to  raise 
To  him  who  dwells  in  hght ! 

"  0  may  my  heart,  with  childlike  fear. 
Draw  nigh  to  thee,  my  God  ; 
And  breathe  its  humble,  contrite  prayer 
Through  faith  in  Jesus'  blood  ! 

"  Thus  aided  by  thy  grace  divine, 
My  soul  shall  mount  on  high  ; 
And  wing'd  by  heavenly  love,  shall  join 
The  anthems  of  the  sky." 


LIFE   IN  CHRIST. 

"  Thanks  to  the  Father  for  the  Son, 
This  precious  gift  of  love, 
That  guilty  and  rebellious  man 
His  pard'ning  grace  might  prove. 

"  May  I  in  Christ  forever  dwell, 
And  in  this  ark  abide. 
Safe  from  the  powers  of  earth  and  hell, 
And  my  own  heart  beside ; 

"  Till,  freed  from  this  my  house  of  clay, 
My  spirit  shall  ascend. 
Where  God  his  glories  shall  display 
In  Christ  the  sinner's  friend. 


84       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

"  And  there  forever  sing  his  praise. 
Who  died  that  I  might  Hve, 
And  daily  higher  anthems  raise. 
And  nobler  praises  give." 


RISE,  MY   SOUL. 

"  0  that  my  soul  could  mount  on  high, 
And  leave  the  things  of  time  and  sense, 
Pierce  through  the  cloud  with  faith's  clear  eye. 
And  view  the  saint's  rich  recompense ! 

"  Then  raptur'd  with  the  glorious  sight, 
She  would  no  longer  grovel  here ; 
But  soar  with  ever  new  delight, 
And  mingle  with  the  spirits  there, 

"Who  daily  hold  communion  sweet. 
With  him  who  lives  and  reigns, 
Who  cast  their  crowns  before  his  feet, 
And  praise  him  in  angelic  strains. 

"  Lord,  wash  me,  and  I  shall  be  clean. 
Anoint  mine  eyes,  and  I  shall  see; 
And  then  no  cloud  shall  intervene. 
To  hide  my  precious  Lord  from  me." 


ONE   HUNDRED  AND  FORTY-EIGHTH  PSALM. 

"  0  praise  the  Lord,  ye  Heavens  above. 
Praise  him  from  every  height : 
Praise  him,  ye  Angels  round  his  throne. 
Who  dwell  in  purest  light ! 

"  Praise  him,  thou  glorious  Sun,  whose  beams 
Are  felt  to  nature's  base. 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.        85 

And  thou  fair  moon,  and  ye  high  stars, 
Send  forth  your  nightly  praise. 

"  In  strains  divine,  ye  vajD'ry  clouds, 
Your  Maker's  works  approve  ; 
In  gentle  praises,  soft  descend, 
Ye  waters  from  above. 

"  0  let  them  praise  the  name  of  God, 

Who  brought  them  into  light ; 
Who  spake  the  word,  and  firm  they  stood, 
In  glorious  beauty  bright. 

"  O  praise  the  Lord,  from  this  our  earth. 
Ye  dragons  of  the  deep. 
Fire,  hail,  and  snow,  and  stormy  wind, 
That  his  commandments  keep. 

"  Ye  mountains,  and  ye  little  hills. 
Send  up  your  bleating  praise  ; 
Ye  cedars  tall,  and  fruitful  trees. 
On  high  your  branches  raise. 

"  Ye  heasts  that  in  the  forest  roam, 
Ye  cattle  of  the  field. 
And  every  fowl,  and  creeping  thing. 
Your  simple  praises  yield. 

"  0  bless  the  Lord,  ye  kingly  powers, 
And  all  ye  people  join  ; 
Ye  judges  of  the  earth,  proclaim, 
His  majesty  divine. 

"  Ye  blooming  youth,  exalt  his  name 
Who  makes  your  strength  increase  ; 
Ye  aged,  all  his  wonders  tell, 

Who  crowns  your  days  with  peace. 

"  0  let  the  ivhole  creation  join, 
In  one  loud  song  of  praise 


86       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

To  God,  the  great  and  glorious  God, 
Whose  pow'r  the  world  displays. 

"  Who  bids  his  •people  tmst  in  him. 
Who  fills  his  saints  with  joy  ; 
His  praise  in  nobler  strains  above 
Shall  be  their  sweet  employ  1" 


COMPOSED  FOR  A  CHILD. 

"  0  precious  Saviour  !  thou  hast  said, 
Let  little  children  come  to  me ; 
I'll  pour  my  blessings  on  their  head. 
And  cleanse  them  from  iniquity. 

"  Then  let  me  come  my  dearest  Lord, 
0  let  a  child  thy  promise  plead ; 
Fulfil  to  me  thy  faithful  word, 

And  o'er  ray  heart  thy  graces  shed  ! 


ON  READING  SOME  LINES  IN  A  NEWSPAPER,  AN- 
NOUNCING THE  DEATH  OF  A  FRIEND. 

•'  0  they  have  left  thy  brightest  fame  untold, 
Obsured  it,  hid  its  purest,  finest  gold ; 
Thou  didst  delight  to  bear  the  Christian  name. 
And  felt  within  its  glowing,  heavenly  flame. 
Which  bade  thee  humbly  bow  before  that  Power, 
Who  had  preserved  thee  in  each  trying  hour : 
Whose  love  was  shed  abroad  within  thy  heart. 
Directing  thee  to  choose  that  better  part. 
Which  neither  life,  nor  death,  nor  earthly  good. 
Can  take  from  those  wash'd  in  the  Saviour's  blood. 
This  was  thy  glory,  this  thy  bright  renown. 
In  death  thy  comfort,  and  in  heaven  thy  crown,." 


MEMOIR  OF    HANNAH   L.   MURRAY.  87 

VERSIFICATION  OF  A  PART  OF  THE  FORTY-THIRD 
CHAPTER  OF  ISAIAH. 

"  0  Israel,  be  not  thou  dismayed, 
My  servant  Jacob,  fear  not  thou  ; 
I  am  thine  all-sufficient  aid, 

Thy  shield  to  ward  off  every  blow. 

"  When  through  the  waters  thou  dost  go, 
I  will  uphold  thee  by  my  power  ; 
Nor  shall  the  rivers  fiercely  flow. 
But  I  will  guide  thee  safely  o'er. 

"And  if  amid  the  fire  thou  tread. 

Thou  shalt  not  feel  its  burning  heat. 
Nor  shall  the  flame  upon  thy  head 
E'er  with  its  scorching  fervor  beat. 

"  For  am  I  not  the  Lord,  thy  God, 
The  Holy  One  of  Israel  named. 
Thy  Saviour,  who  with  precious  blood. 
Thy  soul  from  death  and  hell  redeem'd  ? 

"  0  thou  who  Israel  didst  uphold. 

And  who  didst  guard  him  all  his  way. 
Me  in  thine  arms  of  love  enfold, 

And  keep  me  near  thee,  lest  I  stray." 


THE  CLOSING  VERSES  OF  THE  PROPHECY  OF 
HABAKKUK. 

"  What  though  the  fig-tree  blossom  not. 
Nor  fruit  upon  the  vine  appear  ; 
What  though  the  olive  fail  to  sprout, 
The  fields  to  yield  the  golden  ear : 

"  What  though  the  tender  flock  shall  fail. 
And  from  the  stalls  the  herd  shall  cease  ; 


88        MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

Yet  tbou,  ray  soul,  with  joy  shalt  hail 
The  Lord  of  life,  and  light,  and  peace. 

"My  song  shall  his  salvation  be, 

My  joy,  my  hope,  and  my  desire  ; 
Set  by  his  blessed  Spirit  free, 

My  soul  shall  mount  with  holy  fire." 


I  AM  THY  SHIELD,  AND  THINE  EXCEEDING  GREAT 
REWARD. 

"  How  sweet  this  promise  of  the  Lord 
To  Abraham  his  friend  ; 
I'll  be  thy  shield,  and  great  reward. 
Thy  God  unto  the  end  ! 

"  Glory  to  God,  who  reigns  above. 
And  sits  upon  the  throne. 
And  to  the  Lamb  whose  dying  love 
Has  made  us  all  his  own  !" 


THE  CHIEF  CORNER  STONE. 

"Jesus,  my  rock,  thou  precious  corner  stone, 
A  basis  sure  for  faith  to  build  upon. 
Here  would  I  rest,  and  make  my  work  to  rise, 
From  this  foundation  till  it  meet  the  skies. 

"  Here  fixed,  though  sin  may  rage  around  my  soul. 
Though  billows  of  temptation  near  me  roll, 
Though  troubles  sore,  and  sorrows  may  assail, 
Yet  can  they  never  o'er  my  faith  prevail. 

"  While  safe  within  my  Saviour's  arms  I  lie, 
Who  guards  in  life,  and,  when  I  come  to  die. 
Will  strengthen  and  support  my  crumbling  frame. 
Warm  my  faint  spirit  with  a  heavenly  flame, 
Open  in  my  soul  the  bright,  th'  eternal  day. 
And  bear  her  on  triumphant  wings  away." 


MEMOIR  OP  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.  89 

PRAISE   TO   GOD. 

"  0  Lord,  my  strength,  I  love  to  praise 
Thy  holy  name,  thy  wondrous  ways. 
Thy  grace,  and  truth,  and  heavenly  love, 
And  mercy  beaming  from  above, 
Which  show  the  soul  the  joys  of  heaven. 
And  bid  it  sing  of  sins  forgiven. 

"  0  my  Redeemer,  and  my  King, 
Of  thy  great  glory  I  would  sing, 
And  long,  in  vision  rapt,  to  view 
Those  glories  which  are  ever  new, 
And  find  myself  transformed  and  pure 
Of  heaven  possessed,  of  bliss  secure  ; 

"  And  which  shall  never  cease  in  heaven 
While  souls  are  saved,  and  sins  forgiven ; 
And  when  this  earth  shall  melt  away, 
And  time  shall  cease,  and  night  and  day, 
Yet  still  the  ransom'd  of  the  Lord 
Shall  praise  thee,  and  with  one  accord." 


SITTING  AT  THE   LORD'S   TABLE. 

"  0  how  delightful  'tis  to  sit 
Around  thy  table.  Lord  ; 
Where  all  thy  dear  disciples  meet 
To  hear  thy  gracious  word  ! 

"  May  we  remember  all  that  love 

Which  brought  thee  down  from  heaven  ; 
And  may  we  wish  our  own  to  prove, 
For  such  salvation  given. 

"  0  may  our  hearts  with  rapture  glow 
While  Jesus  is  the  theme  ; 
And,  fiU'd  with  grateful  thanks,  o'erflow 
To  thee,  the  great  Supreme. 


90       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

"  Worthy  is  he  who  by  his  blood, 
Has  washed  our  guilt  away, 
And  made  us  kings  and  priests  to  God, 
Throughout  an  endless  day  ! 


THE   HEART  GIVEN  TO  JESUS. 

"  0  blessed  Jesus,  Lord  of  life, 
How  I  adore  thy  matchless  love, 
That  made  thee  leave  those  realms  of  hght. 
And  all  those  perfect  joys  above, 

"  To  bring  us  sinners  back  to  God, 
And  cleanse  us  too  from  every  sin. 
And' guard  us  still  by  thine  own  power 
From  foes  without  and  foes  within. 

"  Who  will  not  yield  his  heart  to  thee. 
Thou  healer  of  the  sin-sick  soul ! 
0  take  me,  Lord,  and  let  me  feel 
Thy  love  my  every  thought  control ! 

"0  let  me  feel  that  I  am  thine. 
That  I  am  cleansed  in  thy  blood, 
Let  all  my  powers  of  soid  combine 
To  praise  thee,  great,  incarnate  God  !" 


ON  READING  THE  LIFE  OF  COL.  GARDINER. 

"  Great  God,  with  what  adoring  awe 
Thy  wond'rous  power  is  viewed. 
When  by  a  word  the  rebel  heart 
Lies  prostrate  and  subdued. 

"  One  glimpse  of  Jesus  on  the  cross. 
The  guilty  soul  transforms. 
Sets  home  its  black  ingratitude 
And  fills  it  with  alarms. 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       91 

"  Discovers  to  the  mental  eye 
A  just  and  holy  God 
Who  could  not  pardon  rebel  man 
Without  the  Saviour's  blood. 

"  Well  may  the  ransom'd  sinner  cry. 
It  is  to  grace  alone, 
To  free,  rich,  sovereign  grace,  that  I 
Have  access  to  the  throne. 

"  Not  unto  me,  0  God,  my  strength. 
Not  unto  me  the  praise  : 
But  for  the  Spirit's  precious  vFork 
My  ceaseless  song  I  '11  raise." 


LAMENTING  AFTER  GOD. 

"  0  God  of  grace,  thy  mercy  show 
Towards  a  sinful  rebel's  heart  ; 
Great  God,  ward  off  the  dreadfxd  blow. 
And  cause  thine  anger  to  depart. 

"  For  0,  what  soul  thy  power  can  bear, 
When  justice  urges  vengeance  on  ? 
What  agonies  the  heart  must  tear. 
When  conscience  thunders,  hope  is  gone ! 

"  Lift  up  thy  reconciled  face, 

To  bless  this  poor,  benighted  soul ; 
Shine  through  the  gospel  of  thy  grace. 
And  bid  thy  comforts  on  it  roll : 

"  Speak  to  it  peace,  through  Jesus'  blood, 

Which  flowed  to  cleanse  such  souls  from  sin ; 
And  grant  thy  pard'ning  love,  0  God, 
For  Jesus'  sake  and  make  it  clean : 


92        MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

"  That  thus  by  grace  it  may  be  made 
A  holy  temple  to  the  Lord, 
In  which  his  love  shall  be  display 'd, 
And  all  his  attributes  adored." 


A   DOXOLOGY. 


"  To  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost, 
The  sacred  Three  in  One, 
Be  glory,  power,  and  might  ascribed 
By  every  mortal  tongue !" 


CHAPTER  VI. 

HER    INTEREST    IN    REVIVALS    OF    RELIGION. 


"  Before  him  power  divine  his  way  prepared  ; 
At  his  command  the  uprooted  hills  retired 
Each  to  his  place  ;  they  heard  his  voice  and  went 
Obsequious.     Heaven  her  wonted  face  renewed, 
And  with  fresh  flowerets  hill  and  valley  smiled." 


The  greatest  work  which  omnipotence  per- 
foivms,  is  the  conversion  and  sanctification  of 
men.  In  accomplishing  it,  God  has  arranged 
the  wisest  and  best  adapted  means,  and  super- 
added to  them  the  immediate  power  of  his 
own  effectual  grace.  It  is  a  somewhat  re- 
markable fact,  that  in  the  same  measure  in 
which  the  church  becomes  corrupt,  and  even 
in  the  same  measure  in  which  she  becomes 
lukewarm,  and  relapses  into  spiritual  declen- 
sion, is  she  prone  to  rely  on  the  intrinsic  effi- 
cacy of  outward  means  and  observances,  to 
the  neglect  of  that  conscious  dependence 
on  the  Spirit  of  God,  which  is  all  her  encour- 
agement and  hope.  One  of  the  great  ques- 
tions which  has  agitated  her  in  every  age,  and 
which  agitates  her  still,  is  whether  the  Chris- 


94       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

tian  character  is  formed  l3y  symbolical  ordi- 
nances, or  by  the  "  renewing  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  ?"  and  whether  she  is  to  look  for  her 
enlargement  and  purity  to  the  gradual  influ- 
ence of  outward  institutions,  or  to  the  special 
outpouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God  ? 

We  may  not  depreciate  the  appointed 
means  of  grace  and  salvation  ;  for  "  w  here  no 
vision  is  the  people  perish."  Nor  do  we  de- 
preciate them,  when  we  refuse  to  assign  to 
them  the  place  in  man's  redemption  which  is 
occupied  by  their  divine  Author.  We  may 
not  depreciate  the  sealing  ordinances  of  God's 
covenant ;  nor  do  we,  when  we  deny  that 
they  are  converting  ordinances.  While  we 
do  not  deny  that  they  mmj,  by  the  blessing  of 
God,  be  the  means  of  conversion  to  wicked 
men,  we  do  deny  that  they  are  appointed  and 
instituted  for  this  purpose.  No  unconverted 
man  has  a  scriptural  warrant  to  take  God's 
covenant  into  his  mouth. 

It  were  well,  on  so  grave  a  question  as  this, 
to  take  heed  to  the  instructions  of  the  Sacred 
Scriptures.  There  is  no  position  which  they 
establish  more  clearly,  than  that  "  the  materi- 
als for  the  visible  church  are  formed  by  the 
Spirit  of  God."  Whenever  the  prophets  speak 
of  the  enlargement  of  the  visible  church,  they 
attribute  it  to  the  fact,  that  "  God  pours  his 
Spirit  upon  her  seed,  and  his  blessing   upon 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.  95 

her  offspring  ;"  that  "  all  her  children  shall  be 
taught  of  the  Lord ;"  and  that  he  "  will  pour 
out  his  Spirit  on  all  flesh."  The  narrative  of 
the  wondrous  scenes  on  the  day  of  Pentecost 
teaches  the  same  lesson,  and  concludes  with 
the  memorable  w  ords,  "  And  the  Lord  added 
to  the  church  daily  such  as  should  he  saved.'" 
The  Gentiles  who  were  brought  in  in  the  days 
of  the  Apostles,  were  once  afar  off,  but  were 
"brought  nigh  by  the  blood  of  Christ;"  they 
were  "  fellow-citizens  with  the  saints,  and  of  the 
household  of  God  ;"  they  were  "  builded  to- 
gether for  an  habitation  of  God,  through  the 
Spirit  J"  \\\  addressing  the  Gentile  churches, 
the  Apostles  addressed  them  as  "  beloved  of 
God,"  as  the  "  faithful  in  Christ  Jesus ;"  as 
"  predestinated  to  holiness,  and  accepted  in 
the  Beloved ;"  as  "  knowing  the  grace  of  God 
in  truth;"  and  as  those  to  whom  "  the  gospel 
came,  not  in  word  only,  but  also  in  power,  and 
in  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  in  much  assurance." 
God's  thoughts  are  not  as  our  thoughts,  nor 
are  his  ways  as  our  ways.  We  have  fallen 
upon  times  when  more  is  ascribed  to  men  and 
means,  and  less  to  the  Spirit  of  God,  than  is 
due  to  their  nothingness,  and  His  sufficiency. 
Never  was  there  a  more  extended  and  more 
varied  machinery  in  motion  to  effect  the  spirit- 
ual renovation  of  men,  than  exists  at  the  pres- 
ent moment.     God    seems  to  have  left  us  to 


96  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

the  experiment  of  endeavoring  to  accomplish 
what  men  and  means  can  accomplish  without 
his  Spirit.  And  what  is  the  result  ?  "  Upon 
the  land  of  my  people  shall  come  up  thorns 
and  briars,  yea,  upon  all  houses  of  the  joyous 
city,  until  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  be  poured 
from  on  high."  Never  more  will  there  be 
found  among  us  an  awakened  thought,  nor 
a  pang  of  conviction,  nor  a  penitential  tear, 
nor  a  peaceful  hope  in  Christ,  nor  one  emotion 
of  .spiritual  comfort  or  joy,  unless  He  gives  it ; 
"  all  these  Avorketh  that  selfsame  Spirit." 

The  strength  and  fervor  of  Miss  Murray's 
piety  were  indicated  by  the  interest  she  felt 
in  the  great  work  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  which 
so  signally  distinguished  the  age  in  which  she 
was  permitted  to  live.  It  was  in  every  view 
a  remarkable  age,  both  in  the  old  world  and 
the  new;  in  science,  in  the  arts,  and  in  the 
progress  of  civil  society.  It  was  a  memorable 
period  in  the  history  of  the  American  church. 
From  the  year  1792,  the  year  of  her  bloom, 
to  the  year  1836,  when  she  was  called  to  her 
heavenly  rest,  the  various  departments  of  the 
church  of  God  in  this  land  were  graciously 
visited  by  copious  effusions  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
Our  female  academies  and  schools,  our  col- 
leges and  our  churches,  drank  largely  from 
this  fountain  of  living  waters.  The  Brick 
Presbyterian  church  in  this  city,  in  commun- 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.        97 

ion  witli  which  she  lived  and  died,  from  the 
year  1815,  to  the  winter  of  1830  and  1831,  was 
favored  with  five  seasons  of  refreshing  from 
the  presence  of  the  Lord.  Sparse  clouds  of 
mercy  had  been  hovering-  over  us  during  the 
years  1811,  1813,  and  1814,  and  God  gave 
testimony  to  the  word  of  his  grace,  especially 
to  numbers  in  middle  life,  and  who  had  long 
been  faithfully  instructed  by  my  venerable 
predecessor,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rodgers,  and  his 
then  more  youthful  colleague,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Samuel  Miller.  From  the  year  1805,  the  year 
in  which  the  Rev.  Dr.  Philip  Milledoler  as- 
sumed the  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregation 
in  Rutgers  street,  to  the  year  1809,  there  were 
some  pleasing  indications  of  God's  presence 
with  that  highly  favored  people.  During  the 
years  1809  and  1810,  the  new  Presbyterian 
church,  then  lately  erected  in  Cedar  street,  and 
under  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr. 
John  B.  Romeyn,  enjoyed  significant  proofs  of 
the  divine  favor.  Dr.  Romeyn  was  abundant 
in  his  labors,  and  distinguished  for  fervid  and 
strong  appeals  to  the  conscience.  He  was 
faithful  in  his  examinations  of  applicants  for 
church  membership,  and  during  some  of  the 
first  years  of  his  ministry,  was  greatly  honored 
as  the  servant  of  his  Divine  Master. 

The  writer  was  ordained  to  the  work  of  the 
gospel  ministry,  and  installed  as  the  pastor  of 


98  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

the  congregation  which  he  has  now  the  honor 
to  serve,  in  the  year  1810.  He  had  witnessed 
several  revivals  of  religion  in  New  England ; 
was  imbued  with  the  conviction,  that  they  were 
the  hope  of  the  church  and  the  world.  He  had 
seen  the  blessed  fruits  of  them  more  especially 
under  the  preaching  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Dwight, 
at  Yale  College,  and  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Stuart 
and  Merwin,  then  the  pastors  of  churches  in 
New  Haven.  He  made  himself  familiar  with 
the  narratives  of  these  scenes  of  heavenly 
mercy  from  the  days  of  Edwards,  Whitfield, 
and  the  Tennents,  down  to  those  narratives 
which  enrich  the  pages  of  the  Connecticut 
Magazine,  the  Panoplist,  and  the  Assembly 
Magazine,  published  at  Philadelphia.  Most 
kindly  had  it  been  so  ordered  by  divine  provi- 
dence, that  all  that  he  had  seen  and  read  on 
this  great  subject,  was  entirely  free  from  those 
modern  innovations,  and  those  new,  extrava- 
gant, and  unscriptural  measures,  which  cor- 
rupted so  many  of  the  later  revivals,  and  justly 
exposed  them  to  suspicion  in  the  minds  of 
good  men.  He  had  not  one  prejudice  against 
them;  not  a  fear  of  their  unhappy  influence  ; 
nor,  so  far  as  he  can  now  recollect,  one  lurk- 
ing thought,  that  the  great  adversary  could 
turn  them  to  good  account  in  the  advancement 
of  his  own  kingdom.  He  entered  upon  his 
ministerial  career,  resolved  by  the  blessing  of 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.        99 

God,  to  labor  for  a  revival  of  religion  among 
the  people  of  his  charge.  He  can  scarcely  do 
justice  to  the  character  of  Miss  Murray  with- 
out inweaving  in  the  biography  of  this  pious 
lady  some  incidents  which  mark  his  own  per- 
sonal history  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  He 
does  this  with  the  less  embarrassment,  because 
some  of  them  are  illustrious  proofs  of  the 
grace  of  God  toward  his  people  and  himself, 
and  deserve  to  be  somewhere  recorded. 

The  years  1811,  1812,  and  1813,  were,  as 
has  just  been  intimated,  years  of  hope.  In 
the  spring  of  1814,  the  question  distinctly 
presented  itself  to  his  mind.  What  is  the  ob- 
stacle to  the  revival  of  God's  ivork  among  this 
people  ?  The  answer  is  recorded,  in  some 
thoughts  written  in  his  own  journal,  in  the 
following  words :  "  Neither  myself,  nor  my  people 
are  prepared  for  so  great  a  blessing  :  should  the 
Spirit  of  God  visit  us,  we  should  grieve  him  away. 
The  w^ork  must  begin  in  the  hearts  of  God's 
people  ;  and  it  needs  to  be  begun  in  none  more 
than  my  own.  I  cannot  live,  as^l  have  lived ;  I 
cannot  preach,  as  I  have  preached.  May  1  not 
hope  to  live  and  preach  more  as  though  I  lived 
for  Christ,  and  preached  to  men  tohose  high  des- 
tination is  immortal  glory,  or  never-ending  misery 
and  shame  /"  This  was  the  2nd  of  April ;  it 
w^as  Saturday,  and  a  day  of  prayer.  The  fol- 
lowing Sabbath  was  a  much  more  solemn  Sab- 


100  MEMOIR   OF    HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

bath  than  we  had  been  accustomed  to  enjoy. 
There  was  obviously  a  different  feeling  among 
the  people,  and  some  few  minds  were  deeply 
affected.  The  weekly  lecture  of  the  same 
week  was  also  unusually  solemn.  Yet  were 
there  no  instances  of  thorough  awakening ; 
the  people  felt  for  the  moment,  but  went  their 
way,  forgetting  what  manner  of  persons  they 
were,  and  what  they  had  heard.  The  adver- 
sary was  at  work;  complaints  were  made  of 
the  preaching,  and  the  preacher  began  to  be 
depressed.  By  an  interchange  of  ministerial 
labors,  the  pulpit  was  occupied  the  following 
Sabbath,  by  the  late  Dr.  Richards  of  Newark, 
but  with  no  sensible  change  in  the  condition 
of  the  people.  The  whole  of  the  following 
week  was  one  of  depressing  discouragement ; 
the  voice  of  God  seemed  to  be  saying  to  us, 
"  Your  iniquities  have  separated  between  you 
and  your  God,  and  your  sins  have  hid  his  face 
from  you  that  he  will  not  hear."  Soon  after 
this,  pastoral  labor  among  the  people  was  in- 
termitted for  two  Sabbaths  by  the  absence  of 
the  pastor  as  a  delegate  of  his  presbytery  to 
the  annual  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly. 
The  meeting  of  the  Assembly  that  year  was 
a  most  delightful  meeting.  The  narrative  of 
the  state  of  religion  in  the  churches  for  that 
year  was  drawn  up  by  the  biographer,  and  it 
was  a  service  that  exerted  a  most  happy  effect 


MEMOIR  OP   HANXAH   L.  MURRAY.  101 

upon'  his  own  mind.  He  returned  to  New- 
York  with  the  strong  conviction,  that  the  ad- 
versary was  losing  ground,  trutli  advancing, 
and  the  kingdom  of  Christ  beginning  to  tri- 
umph. He  returned,  too,  with  stronger  hopes 
of  the  outpouring  of  God's  Spirit  upon  the 
people  of  his  charge.  Two  members  of  the 
Assembly,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Blackburn,  and  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Beecher,  on  their  way  to  New  Eng- 
land, remained  a  week  in  New  York,  labored 
abundantly,  and  greatly  strengthened  our 
hands.  There  seemed  to  be  a  shaking  amid 
the  bones  of  the  valley  :  Christians  began  to 
awake :  there  were  a  few  instances  of  awak- 
ening among  the  impenitent,  and  the  hope  be- 
gan to  be  cherished  that  God  was  about  to 
make  bare  his  arm  for  the  revival  of  his  work. 
Saturday,  the  18th  of  June,  was  a  day  of  fast- 
ing and  prayer  in  the  church,  and  on  the  fol- 
lowing Sabbath  was  the  celebration  of  the 
Lord's  Supper.  It  was  a  tranquil  day,  and 
one  on  which  the  heart  of  the  pastor  and  the 
flock  seemed  to  repose  more  implicitly  than 
they  had  been  wont  to  do  on  God.  The  sen- 
timent of  the  day,  so  far  as  I  can  gather  it 
from  my  own  written  notices  of  it  at  the  time, 
was,  "  My  soul,  wait  thou  only  upon  God,  for 
my  expectation  is  from  him !"  During  the 
following  week,  there  was  evidently  more  of 
the    spirit   of  prayer   among   the   people;    it 


102  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

seemed  to  me  they  prayed  as  I  had  never 
heard  them  pray  before.  There  was  a  meet- 
ing for  prayer  on  Saturday  evening,  and  God 
was  with  us.  The  Sabbath  following  was  a 
solemn  day ;  numbers  were  greatly  affected, 
and  the  work  of  grace  appeared  to  have  be- 
gun. A  private  lecture  at  the  house  of  the 
pastor,  on  the  evening  of  the  following  Mon- 
day, and  the  public  lecture  on  Thursday  even- 
ing, were  also  deeply  solemn.  Two  new  in- 
stances of  deep  conviction,  one  of  them  among 
the  deepest  I  have  ever  knovvn,  greatly  en- 
couraged us.  Yet  for  some  time,  there  was 
no  advance  in  the  work ;  we  seemed  rather, 
during  the  last  week  in  June  and  the  first  in 
July,  to  be  relapsing  again  into  stupidity.  On 
the  4th  of  July,  some  ten  or  fifteen  of  the 
church  assembled  at  the  private  residence  of 
one  of  the  Elders  and  devoted  the  morning  to 
prayer.  We  were  greatly  encouraged  ;  God 
did  not  hide  his  face  from  us.  It  was  a  pleas- 
ant, though  not  a  powerful  season  of  mercy. 
About  tliirty  were  gathered  into  the  church 
as  the  fruit  of  it ;  and  they  turned  out  to  be 
some  of  the  most  intelligent,  uniform,  and  use- 
ful Christians.  Some  of  them  "  sleep ;"  their 
deaths  were  delightful ;  and  some  of  them 
still  live  to  honor  their  profession  as  the  dis- 
ciples  of  Christ,  and  their   responsibility  as 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  103 

officers  in   his  church.     The  harvest  was  not 
great,  but  it  Avas  the  finest  wheat. 

Toward  the  latter  part  of  the  summer,  the 
work  declined;  and  during  the  autumn,  the 
church  returned  to  her  former  indifference.  In 
December  our  prospects  were  brighter;  under 
date  of  the  3rd  of  that  month,  there  is  the  fol- 
lowing entry  in  my  own  journal.  "  The  fe- 
male praying  society  have  agreed  to  meet  each 
other  at  the  throne  of  grace  between  eight  and 
nine  o'clock  every  Saturday  evening,  each  in 
her  own  closet,  to  implore  the  outpouring  of 
the  Holy  Spirit.  Who  can  tell  but  brighter 
suns  are  about  to  dawn  ?"  The  year  1815,  open- 
ed under  pleasing  auspices.  The  first  Sabbath 
of  the  year  was  a  day  of  bright  promise  the  ser- 
vices of  the  sanctuary  were  solemn  and  a  spe- 
cial meeting  for  prayer  in  the  evening,  in  the 
lecture  room  was  crowded  to  excess.  It  was 
a  delightful  evening;  and  from  this  day  all  our 
meetings  became  more  full,  more  solemn,  the 
preaching  more  faithful  and  pastoral  visits  more 
frequent.  Eight  or  ten  persons  were  found  in 
the  congregation  Avhose  minds  were  evidently 
waked  up  to  the  claims  of  the  gospel.  The 
w^hole  winter  was  a  season  of  mercy  ;  the  work 
was  silent  and  noiseless,  but  refreshing  as  the 
falling  dew ;  nor  did  those  precious  drops  of 
mercy  cease  to  fall,  but  the  cloud  extended 
itself  throughout  the  following  summer  and 


104       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

autumn.  The  month  of  Aug'ust,  usually  en- 
joyed by  the  pastor  as  a  season  of  relaxation, 
was  occupied  in  visiting  some  of  the  churches 
in  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts,  which  were 
favored  with  marked  tokens  of  the  divine  pres- 
ence, and  where  God  was  multiplying  the  tro- 
phies of  his  grace.  What  he  saw  and  heard 
had  a  happy  effect  upon  his  own  mind.  On  his 
return,  he  gave  a  narrative  to  his  people  of 
what  God  was  doing  in  other  places,  in  which 
they  were  deeply  interested,  and  for  which 
they  thanked  God  and  took  courage.  In  the 
month  of  November  a  Bible  class  was  formed 
for  all  classes  and  all  ages  ;  it  was  numerously 
attended ;  several  gentlemen  of  high  profes- 
sional standing  became  deeply  interested  in 
the  discussion  of  theological  subjects,  and  the 
discussions  were  so  conducted,  that  deep  im- 
pressions seemed  to  be  made  on  very  many 
minds.  After  this,  and  for  several  weeks, 
there  was  an  unusual  cessation  of  religious 
emotion,  and  there  seemed  to  be  an  entire  sus- 
pension of  heavenly  influences  ;  and  we  were 
alarmed  and  humbled  at  these  tokens  of  re- 
turning stupidity.  The  waters  of  the  sanctu- 
ary seemed  to  be  at  the  lowest  ebb,  and  we 
began  to  abandon  the  hope  that  God  was 
about  to  appear  in  his  glory.  Yet  would  we 
record  it  with  unfeigned  gratitude,  that  in  this 
dark  hour,  and  when  our  hopes  had  become 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       105 

well  nigh  despair,  God  was  pleased  greatly  to 
exalt  and  glorify  his  own  name.  Some  of  his 
enemies  began  to  triumph,  but  more  of  his 
friends  began  to  hope.  A  Saturday  evening 
prayer  meeting  which  had  been  in  existence 
more  than  two  years,  and  composed  principally 
of  the  young  men  of  the  church,  and  with  the 
view  of  soliciting  the  power  of  God's  Spirit  to 
attend  the  services  of  the  ensuing  Sabbath, 
was  eminently  instrumental,  not  only  in  en- 
couraging the  hopes  and  efforts  of  the  pastor, 
but  in  diffusing  the  spirit  of  meekness  and 
hope  in  the  members  of  the  church.  The 
grand  sentiment  that  animated  these  beloved 
men,  some  of  whom  are  now  preachers  of  the 
gospel,  some  officers  in  other  churches,  some 
in  our  own,  and  some  among  the  .spirits  of  the 
just  made  perfect,  was  that  there  was  no  help 
for  us  but  from  God,  and  that  he  must  take 
the  work  into  his  own  hands.  And  under  the 
weight  and  encouragement  of  this  truth,  they 
did  indeed  commend  it  to  the  hands  of  God, 
and  wrestled  with  him,  not  so  much  under 
the  impression  that  they  would  not  let  him 
go  until  he  blessed  them,  as  under  the  happy 
impression  that  the  blessing  was  near.  The 
people  of  God  all  around  us  were  full  of  hope  ; 
our  Sabbaths  were  anticipated  with  joy ;  and 
our  weekly  lecture  and  weekly  Bible  class 
began  to  put  on  a  new  face. 

5* 


106  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

Nothing  however  of  a  very  marked  charac- 
ter appeared  until  a  meeting  for  prayer  held 
on  the  morning  of  the  New  Year,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  beseeching  the  God  of  Zion  to  make 
the  year,  then  begun,  a  year  of  the  right 
hand  of  the  Most  High.  It  was  a  season  of 
great  nearness  to  God.  It  was  indeed  the 
time  of  Jacob's  trouble,  but  it  w^as  the  time  of 
his  relief.  The  persons  present  entered  into  a 
solemn  engagement  with  each  other  to  be  more 
watchful  and  prayerful ;  and  they  more  spe- 
cifically covenanted  to  meet  each  other  at  the 
throne  of  grace,  every  Lord's  Day,  at  2  o'clock, 
in  order  to  wrestle  with  the  hearer  of  prayer  for 
the  outpouring  of  his  Spirit.  God  appeared 
to  smile  upon  this  solemnity,  and  to  seal  it 
with  his  presence.  No  sooner  was  this  en- 
gagement formed,  than  every  face  was  suffused 
with  tears,  and  every  heart  was  buoyant  with 
the  expectation  that  He  who  was  lifted  up 
from  the  earth  would  make  known  the  attrac- 
tion of  His  power.  This  is  among  the  days 
which  will  never  be  forgotten  in  the  history 
of  the  Brick  church.  From  this  day  we  ex- 
pected a  revival  of  religion.  The  spirit  of 
prayer  began  from  this  day  to  revive,  and  the 
spirit  of  faith  to  fasten  on  the  promises  of  Him 
that  cannot  lie.  It  seemed  to  us,  that  we 
had  never  felt  before  the  import  of  the  words, 
"■  O  thou   that  hearest   prayer !''     Soon  after 


MEMOIR  OF    HANNAH    L.    MURRAY.  107 

this,  we  began  to  hear  of  several  instances  in 
which  former  impressions,  that  had  been  ef- 
faced from  the  minds  of  the  impenitent,  were 
revived,  and  of  several  instances  of  solemnity 
that  were  not  known,  and  some  of  them  little 
thought  of.  We  had  been  looking  for  this, 
and  were  disappointed  that  we  saw  no  more. 
But  we  were  not  cast  down.  We  felt  that 
there  was  a  fearful  weight  of  sin  upon  us,  as 
a  church,  and  that  it  was  no  difficult  matter  to 
perceive  the  cloud  that  hid  the  Sun  of  Right- 
eousness from  us. 

Just  at  this  period  it  pleased  God  to  put  it 
into  the  lieart  of  about  thirty  members  of 
the  church  privately  to  set  apart  a  day  of 
festing,  humiliation  and  prayer,  in  order  to 
inquire  of  the  sovereign  Lord  of  heaven  and 
earth,  wherefore  he  contended  with  us,  and 
why  he  hid  his  face.  This  was  on  the  third 
Thursday  of  January,  the  day  preceding  our 
weekly  lecture.  I  never  was  present  at  such 
a  meeting  before ;  I  have  never  been  pres- 
ent at  such  a  meeting  since.  I  never  wit- 
nessed such  simplicity  of  Christian  feeling, 
such  earnest  desires  that  God  might  be  glori- 
fied in  the  salvation  of  men,  such  deep  humil- 
iation, and  such  abundant  and  peculiar  con- 
fession of  sin.  The  Spirit  of  God  seemed  to 
constrain  individuals,  and  especially  some  of 
the  more  aged  and  venerable  Ruling  Elders  of 


108  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

the  church,  to  make  confessions  of  their  per- 
sonal sinfulness  in  a  manner  altogether  unaf- 
fected, yet  altogether  unusual  and  affecting. 
This  was  emphatically  the  beginning  of  days 
of  great  power.  It  may  he  doubted  if  there 
was  a  person  present  who  did  not  believe  that 
we  were  just  on  the  eve  of  a  remarkable  out- 
pouring of  God's  Spirit ;  and  it  is  worthy  of 
remark,  that  toward  the  close  of  the  day,  all 
our  conversation  and  prayer  showed  that  the 
work  had  been  begun  -,  that  we  were  in  the 
midst  of  it,  and  our  inquiries  were  not  so 
much  what  was  to  be  done  to  promote  it,  as  how 
it  became  us  to  conduct  ourselves  while  God 
was  multiplying  around  us  the  trophies  of  his 
mercy.  Nor  were  these  anticipations  defeat- 
ed :  God  verified  the  promise,  "  Before  they 
call,  I  will  answer,  and  while  they  are  yet 
speaking  I  will  hear."  The  same  evening  saw 
us  assembled  at  the  weekly  lecture;  and  it  was 
to  "  stand  still  and  see  the  salvation  of  God." 
No  one  could  account  for  it,  except  those  who 
had  been  familiar  with  the  cause  in  that  upper 
chamber,  and  who  had  beheld  it  by  the  eye  of 
faith.  Not  a  child  of  God  could  enter  that  little 
Bethel  without  the  irresistible  conviction  that 
God  was  there.  Never  was  the  house  so  full, 
never  so  solemn,  never  was  it  so  visible  that 
the  hearts  of  men  were  in  the  hands  of  the 
Lord,  and  that  his  Spirit  moved  the  people,  as 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  109 

the  trees  of  the  forest  are  moved  by  a  mighty 
wind.  We  have  good  reason  to  believe  that 
the  minds  of  more  than  one  hundred  were 
deeply  impressed  by  a  view  of  their  lost  con- 
dition on  that  memorable  evening.  There 
was  truly  a  noise  and  a  shaking  among  the  dry 
bones  of  the  valley,  and  bone  came  to  his 
bone.  From  that  period  the  work  was  of  a 
marked  character.  Notwithstanding  the  con- 
temptous  reproach  of  some  that  it  was  all  the 
work  of  man,  yet  had  God  so  evidently  taken 
it  into  his  own  hands,  that  both  the  church 
and  the  world  were  constrained  to  confess, 
"  This  is  the  finger  of  God."  Our  public  assem- 
blies put  on  the  appearance,  not  so  much  of 
excitement,  as  deep  and  motionless  anxiety. 
No  unequivocal  intimations  indicated  the 
duty  of  paying  particular  attention  to  the  youth. 
On  the  following  Sabbath  evening  an  exercise 
was  appointed  exclusively  for  them,  at  which 
there  were  present  about  two  hundred,  num- 
bers of  whom,  who  subsecjuently  became  the 
children  of  God,  and  were  before  hardened 
and  stupid  sinners,  date  their  first  impressions 
from  that  service.  This  exercise  was  of  such 
high  promise  that  it  was  repeated.  On  the 
second  evening,  the  house  w  as  full,  and  at  the 
close  of  the  exercise  more  than  one  hundred  re- 
mained, after  the  benediction  was  pronounced, 
to  inquire  what  they  should  do  to  be   saved. 


110  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

This  fact  alone  conveyed  lessons  of  instruc- 
tion which  it  was  out  of  the  power  of  the 
preacher  to  convey,  and  was  the  means  of 
diffusing'  the  spirit  of  deep  concern  and  anxious 
inquiry  over  the  whole  people.  It  was  within 
ten  days  of  this  time  that  the  attention  and 
solemnity  were  most  universal.  There  was 
hardly  a  family  or  individual  who  did  not  be- 
gin to  think  seriously  of  the  things  of  the  eter- 
nal world.  There  was  indeed  one  week  in 
which  it  seemed  that  the  Spirit  of  all  grace 
was  about  to  shed  forth  his  sweet  influences 
upon  our  city  :  and  we  were  praying  and  hop- 
ing to  see  this  desolate  region  watered  by  the 
plentiful  showers  of  divine  grace. 

In  this  delightful  work  of  mercy  several  facts 
are  worthy  of  remembrance.  One  is,  the  many 
instances  in  which  the  youthful  husband  and 
wife  were  both  brought  into  the  divine  kingdom. 
Another  is  the  great  ignorance  of  those  whose 
minds  were  seriously  exercised,  and  the  greed- 
iness with  which  they  received  religious  in- 
struction. Another  is  the  delis^htful  emotions 
with  which  every  religious  service,  and  espe- 
cially every  returning  sabbath,  were  antici- 
pated, and  the  animating  expectation  they  im- 
parted, that  every  service  would  see  some 
turning  from  the  error  of  their  ways  to  the 
wisdom  of  the  just.  And  still  another  is,  the 
rapidity  of  the  work.     The  period  of  awaken- 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  HI 

ing  and  conviction  was  in  most  instances  very 
short ;  so  short,  indeed,  that  we  ourselves  be- 
gan to  tremble  at  the  indulgence  of  what  we 
feared  were  premature  hopes,  but  which  sub- 
sequently showed  themselves  to  be  the  hope 
which  maketh  not  ashamed.  There  were  in- 
stances, in  which  the  whole  progress  of  con- 
viction and  conversion  were  completed  during 
a  single  service.  One  instance  in  particular 
deserves  to  be  gratefully  recorded.  A  young 
lady  of  high  character  and  cultivated  mind 
and  habits,  who  was  during  that  winter  a  mere 
visitant  in  the  city,  and  an  habitual  worship- 
per in  the  Brick  Church  received  her  first  re- 
ligious impressions  at  the  commencement  of 
the  first  prayer  at  a  preparatory  lecture,  and 
at  the  close  of  the  prayer,  was  rejoicing  in 
hope.  At  the  close  of  the  service  the  lady 
whom  she  was  visiting  requested  the  preacher 
to  return  with  her  to  her  own  dwelling,  where 
he  learnt  from  the  lips  of  his  young  friend  that 
the  first  sentence  of  the  prayer  sunk  deep  into 
her  soul.  To  the  second  sentence  her  own 
heart  responded.  To  all  the  adoring  thoughts 
of  God,  all  the  confessions  of  sin,  all  the  suppli- 
cations for  mercy,  all  the  expressions  of  con- 
fidence her  own  heart  also  responded.  And 
when  in  the  closing  words  of  the  prayer,  the 
animating  thought  was  uttered  "  Worthy  is  the 
Lamb  that  was  slain,  who  hath  redeemed  us 


112       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

unto  God  by  his  blood,"  her  own  heart  re- 
sponded to  the  sentiment,  and  for  the  first  time 
in  her  life  she  added  her  grateful,  adoring, 
Amen.  The  next  morning  the  preacher  was 
sent  for  to  visit  her  in  haste.  As  he  entered 
the  room,  she  rose  hastily  to  meet  him,  burst 
into  tears,  and  said,  "  Oh,  sir,  I  have  sent  for 
you  to  ask  you,  if  it  is  wicked  for  me  to  be  so 
happy/'*  That  lady  still  lives,  greatly  beloved 
of  her  family,  an  ornament  to  the  church  of 
God,  and  realizing  the  promise  to  Abraham, 
"  I  will  bless  thee  and  make  thee  a  blessing." 
To  the  best  of  the  writer's  knowledge,  from  the 
first  profession  of  her  faith  she  never  wavered. 
Some  few  instances  of  apostacy  from  this 
large  ingathering  there  were  ;  but  they  have 
been  few  :  of  more  than  one  hundred  who, 
we  trust,  were  then  brought  to  the  saving 
knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ,  almost  the  entire 
number  have  honored  the  doctrine  of  God 
their  Saviour.  Other  seasons  of  mercy  were 
enjoyed  by  us,  but  no  subsequent  outpouring 
of  the  Spirit  was  so  general  as  that  which  was 
witnessed  during  the  winter  of  1828  and  9, 
during  which  about  sixty  were  brought  into 
the  kingdom  of  God.  In  the  winter  of  1831 
and  2,  also,  God  visited  the  churches  of  the 
Presbytery,  and  we  were  permitted  to  share 
in  the  blessing.  The  various  churches  and 
the  different  pastors  were  never  brought  so 


MEMOIR  OP   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  113 

near  to  each  other,  and  never  so  truly  and  so 
happily  co-operated  in  the  great  work  as  dur- 
ing this  last  revival.  Christian  and  ministerial 
fellowship  and  united  prayer  were  obviously 
the  selected  instrumentality  in  this  last  work  of 
grace,  and  they  were  delightfully  honored. 
The  God  of  peace  was  with  us. 

The  emotions  of  Mi«s  Murray  during  these 
seasons,  it  is  not  easy  to  describe.  The  scene 
was  new  ;  she  seemed  full  of  solicitude,  of 
fear,  yet  full  of  love,  of  gratitude,  of  hope.  As 
our  weekly  religious  services  became  more 
frequent,  and  thronged,  and  solemn  ;  and  the 
preaching  more  urgent,  faithful,  and  tender; 
and  it  was  known  that  some  thirty  or  forty 
were  anxiously  inquiring  for  the  way  of  life, 
she  saw  that  it  was  the  work  of  God,  and  her 
tenderness,  her  humility,  her  prayers,  were  all 
awake  to  promote  it.  Though  it  was  her 
habit,  in  the  absence  of  her  brother,  to  lead 
the  daily  devotions  of  her  family,  she  could 
not  so  overcome  her  characteristic  diffidence 
as  to  take  a  public  part  in  any  of  the  meetings 
for  prayer  that  were  instituted  by  her  own 
sex.  Yet  was  she  no  mean  coadjutor  in  the 
work.  The  seasons  for  special  prayer,  and 
the  days  of  fasting  and  prayer  were  to  her 
days  of  great  encouragement  and  refreshing. 
She  always  attended  them  when  her  health 
would  permit,  and  her  presence  cheered  us. 


114  MEMOIR    OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

When  daring  the  winter  of  1816,  there 
were  marked  tokens  of  God's  presence  with 
us,  her  interest  in  the  work  became  more 
intelligent  and  more  intense.  She  frequently 
adverts  to  these  seasons  in  her  diary ;  and  the 
whole  train  of  her  reflections  shows  that  she 
thought,  and  felt,  and  J)rayed  for  the  souls  of 
others  as  she  did  for  her  own.  When  she 
trembled,  it  w^as  for  the  ark  of  God ;  and 
when  she  was  most  joyous  and  triumphant,  it 
W'as  because  God  was  glorified  in  enlarging 
and  beautifying  his  kingdom.  How  much  her 
encouraged  pastor  owes  to  her  silent  and  un- 
obtrusive influence,  and  her  effectual,  fervent 
prayers,  will  never  be  known  till  all  shall 
stand  before  the  Son  of  Man.  That  he  owes 
much,  he  most  gratefully  acknowledges  ;  and 
that  she  will  meet  at  that  day  not  a  few  who 
were  snatched  as  brands  from  the  burning, 
through  her  modest  and  retired  instrumental- 
ity, he  has  not  a  doubt.  Not  a  few%  especially 
among  the  young,  ascribe  their  conversion 
to  her  instrumentality.  Speaking  on  this 
subject,  in  her  diary,  she  shows  her  love  for 
the  souls  of  men,  and  her  fervent  desire  that 
the  grace  of  God  might  be  revealed  in  turning 
them  from  the  error  of  their  ways  to  the  wis- 
dom of  the  just.  Short  ejaculations  like  the 
following  are  everywhere  scattered  through- 
out these  pages.     "  O  Lord  God,  do  thou  for 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.  115 

thy  name's  sake,  pluck  those  who  make  light 
of  thy  gospel,  as  hrands  from  the  burning.  Do 
thou  arouse  them  from  their  stupidity,  that 
they  may  hear  thy  voice  and  live.  Do  thou 
give  them  the  hearing  ear  and  the  under- 
standing heart,  that  they  may  rejoice  in  thy 
salvation  !  O  that  they  may  feel  the  trans- 
forming influences  of  thy  Holy  Spirit  waking 
them  from  the  death  of  sin  !  To  whom  shall 
I  come  for  them  but  to  thee  ?"  On  another 
occasion,  after  a  day  of  prayer  in  the  church, 
she  Avrites,  "  This  day  we  have  been  called  to 
humiliation  and  prayer  on  account  of  the  luke- 
warmness  and  sins  of  God's  people.  O  that 
the  supplications  which  have  gone  up  to  thy 
throne  for  a  time  of  refreshing  from  thy  pres- 
ence, may  find  an  answer  of  peace  !  May 
this  Spirit  be  poured  out  upon  us  as  individuals, 
that  we  may  be  a  praying  community !  O  that 
God  would  return  and  revive  his  work  in  the 
midst  of  us ;  that  he  would  clothe  his  minis- 
ters with  salvation,  that  his  saints  may  shout 
for  joy  ;  that  he  would  heal  our  backslidings  ; 
that  there  may  be  a  great  shaking  amid  the 
dry  bones  of  this  valley,  that  flesh  and  sinews 
may  come  upon  them,  and  the  breath  of  hea- 
ven that  they  may  live,  and  God's  Zion  once 
more  appear  glorious  in  the  eyes  of  the  whole 
world  !"  Again  she  writes,  "  Grant  us,  O 
Lord,  a  time  of  refreshing  from  thy  presence  ! 


116  MEMOIR   OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

Bow  thy  heavens  and  come  down,  and  dwell 
in  the  midst  of  us.  Pour  out  upon  us  a  spirit 
of  grace  and  supplication.  O  may  we  behold 
thy  stately  steppings  in  the  midst  of  us,  and 
rejoice  that  God  will  in  very  deed  dwell  with 
men  on  the  earth,  when  the  heaven  of  heavens 
cannot  contain  him !  Thou  art  a  wonder- 
working God  ;  perform  thy  wonders  amidst 
this  beloved  people  !"  After  such  expressed 
desires  as  these,  it  is  not  wonderful  that  she 
should  take  her  harp  from  the  willows  and 
sing  the  Lord's  song.  A  few  weeks  after  this, 
she  says,  ''  Praise  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  and 
all  that  is  within  me  bless  his  holy  name  ! 
His  arm  is  not  shortened  that  it  cannot  save, 
nor  is  his  ear  heavy  that  it  cannot  hear.  He 
is  calling  on  some  to  sit  down  in  his  heavenly 
kingdom  who  were  the  friends  of  my  youth, 
and  who  are  still  the  friends  of  my  riper 
years.  May  they  have  joy  and  peace  in  be- 
lieving !" 

She  speaks  of  another  day  of  prayer  in  the 
same  spirit.  "  To-day  I  have  attended  a 
meeting  of  the  church,  appointed  to  implore 
the  outpouring  of  God's  Spirit  upon  us,  and 
upon  our  city.  My  soul  has  truly  found  de- 
light in  such  a  day.  I  would  call  upon  all 
that  is  within  me  to  bless  and  praise  his  holy 
name  for  this  opportunity  of  access  to  God.  I 
felt  as  if  I  could  exclaim  with  Jacob  of  old. 


MEMOIR  OP   HANNAH    L.  MURRAY.  117 

This  is  none  other  than  the  house  of  God,  and 
this  is  the  gate  of  heaven  !  O  it  was  a  melt- 
ing season  ;  every  heart  seemed  enlarged,  and 
the  spirit  of  prayer  was  most  evidently  poured 
out  upon  us.  I  humbly  trust  it  was  a  day  ac- 
knowledged by  our  Lord  and  Master,  and  as 
one  on  ^vhich  he  was  pleased  to  be  present, 
and  that  our  prayers  ascended,  perfumed  with 
his  merits  as  a  sweet-smelling  sacrifice.  O 
that  an  abiding  sense  of  this  precious  meeting 
may  be  upon  my  soul  !  How  good  and  how 
pleasant  it  is  for  brethren  to  meet  together 
in  unity,  and  to  have  the  love  of  God  shed 
abroad  in  their  hearts  !  and  to  be  made  willing 
to  say,  Not  unto  us,  O  Lord,  not  unto  us,  but 
to  thy  name  give  glory  for  thy  mercy  and  thy 
truth's  sake !"  These  days  are  well  remem- 
bered by  the  writer,  and  by  multitudes  of 
others,  as  well  as  our  departed  Miss  Murray. 
It  is  refreshing  to  look  back  upon. them  ;  they 
are  green  spots  in  the  desert ;  and  they  still 
remind  us  of  the  years  of  the  right  hand  of  the 
Most  High.  The  young  and  the  fashionable 
^vere-then  wont  to  attend  meetings  for  prayer. 
How  many  precious  thoughts  are  associated 
with  the  "  Old  Lecture  Room  !" 

On  reading  her  diary,  it  will  be  found  that 
such  trains  of  thought  and  feeling  are  followed 
up  during  all  those  seasons  of  mercy  to  which 
we  have  referred.     "  I  have  been  thinking  to- 


118       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

day,"  she  says,  "  of  the  fearful  condition  of 
God's  enemies.  And  I  was  tempted  to  ex- 
claim aloud,  '  Who  among  us  can  dwell 
with  devouring  fire  ?  who  among  us  can  dwell 
with  everlasting  burnings  V  O  gracious  Father  ! 
permit  me  to  plead  thine  own  pi'omise,  that 
thou  wilt  give  thy  Holy  Spirit  to  them  that 
ask  thee."  Then  again  she  says,  "  Thou  art 
a  God  doing  wonders.  Surely  thou  art  mani- 
festing thyself  to  us  as  wonderful  in  counsel 
and  excellent  in  working.  This  day  mine  eyes 
have  seen  not  far  from  one  hundred  publicly 
come  out  from  the  world  and  unite  themselves 
with  thy  visible  people.  Marvellous  is  thy 
work,  Lord  God  Almighty  !  O  may  we  not 
hope  still  more,  and  especially  that  thou  wilt 
touch  the  hearts  of  the  dear  youth,  that  they 
may  be  as  that  generation  of  Israel  which  was 
holiness  to  the  Lord  !"  Again,  a  {ew  pages 
onward,  she  writes,  "It  is  the  Lord's  doing, 
and  marvellous  in  our  eyes.  O  Lord,  thou  art 
in  the  midst  of  us  as  a  church,  showing  thy- 
self to  be  a  Sovereign  God,  arresting  sinners 
in  their  progress  to  death,  and  plucking  them 
as  brands  from  the  burning.  Gird  thy  sword, 
victorious  prince,  upon  thy  thigh,  and  still  ride 
forth  conquering  and  to  conquer  !  And  let  not 
sinners  alone  be  converted,  but  mav  thine  own 
children  be  quickened,  and  my  own  heart  an- 
imated  in   this    day  of  thy    merciful    visita- 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.  119 

tion  !"  On  the  morning  of  a  season  of  special 
prayer  she  writes  thus  :  "  O  Lord,  I  thank 
thee  for  what  mine  eyes  have  seen ;  and  that 
in  the  sovereignty  of  thy  grace,  thou  hast 
made  the  stout-hearted  bow  before  thee.  Thou 
hast  gotten  to  thyself  a  great  name ;  so  that 
those  who  are  without  are  compelled  to  ac- 
knowledge that  it  is  the  work  of  God,  and 
thine  own  children  glorify  thee  on  their  be- 
half. Help  me  this  day  to  meet  thy  people 
with  humility,  and  with  fervency  of  spirit. 
May  the  spirit  of  grace  and  supplication  be 
poured  out  upon  us,  while  we  confess  our  sins 
and  backslidings  before  thee,  and  plead  with 
thee  to  turn  us  again,  and  cause  thy  face  to 
shine  upon  us."  In  view  of  a  similar  occa- 
sion, she  writes,  "  This  day  has  been  set  apart 
for  special  prayer  to  God,  that  he' would  pour 
out  upon  us  as  a  church  the  influences  of  his 
Holy  Spirit,  that  we  may  behold  his  stately 
steppings  in  our  sanctuary,  and  see  sinners 
flocking  unto  Jesus  as  clouds,  and  as  doves  fly 
to  their  windows.  May  we  all  mourn  over 
our  sins — each  family  apart — each  individual 
apart !  Why  do  I  not  feel  more  keenly  for  the 
awful  state  of  those  who  are  dead  in  trespasses 
and  sins,  and  who,  if  they  die  unrenewed  by 
the  Spirit  of  God,  must  descend  to  the  regions 
of  despair,  and  have  their  portion  with  those 


120      MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

who  blaspheme  God  !     O  that  my  head  were 
waters,  and  mine  eyes  a  fountain  of  tears  ?" 

A  perusal  of  Miss  Murray's  diary  has  been 
at  once  humbling  and  refreshing-  to  the  writer 
of  this  volume.  It  has  been  an  instructive 
and  interesting  employment  to  him  to  be  thus 
carried  back  to  the  days  when  the  Spirit  of 
God  came  down  upon  us  as  rain  upon  the  new 
mown  grass,  and  as  showers  that  water  the 
earth.  He  has  been  not  a  little  interested,  too, 
in  finding  that  she  had  noted  the  suhjecis  of  his 
discourses  during  these  years  of  the  right 
hand  of  the  Most  High,  and  encouraged  by 
the  prayers  wdiich  she  offered  that  "  his  bow 
might  abide  in  its  strengh." 

We  have  dwelt  on  the  general  features  of  her 
character  as  disclosed  in  this  chapter,  because 
it  is  due  to  her  memory  to  do  so,  and  because 
it  is  a  theme  which  interests  us.  We  would 
fain  magnify  the  work  of  the  Spirit  of  God. 
The  period  of  the  world  in  which  we  live  is 
sometimes  called  in  the  Scriptures,  "  the  last 
days,"  and  sometimes  "  the  dispensation  of  the 
Spirit."  His  sacred  presence  constitutes  the 
last  dispensation  of  God's  grace  to  our  guilty 
world,  the  last  and  most  impressive  method 
by  which  the  God  who  is  invisible  brings  him- 
self to  the  view^  of  men.  We  fear  there  is 
too  much  ground  for  the  remark  that  the  Holy 
Spirit  is  regarded  as  a  mere  auxiliary  in  the 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  121 

work  of  redemption ;  as  something  which  is 
rather  incidental  to  the  Christian  system,  and 
pertaining  to  some  retired  department  of  it, 
rather  than  as  occupying  the  middle  ground, 
and  winning  his  honors  in  the  very  front  of 
the  great  moral  contest  which  has  been  so 
long  carried  on  in  this  revolted  world.  There 
is  nothing  of  which  we  are  more  convinced 
than  that  he  must  be  more  sought  and  more 
honored,  before  that  blessed  prediction  is  ful- 
filled, "  And  I  heard  a  great  voice  out  of 
heaven,  saying,  The  tabernacle  of  God  is  with 
men,  and  he  will  dwell  with  them,  and  they 
shall  be  his  people,  and  God  himself  sliall  be 
their  God."  He  knows  his  own  worth  and 
excellence,  and  is  "  a  jealous  God,"  His 
character  and  work  are  infinitely  endeared  to 
his  sacred  fellows  of  the  adorable  and  ever- 
blessed  Trinity,  and  they  are  awake  to  claim 
and  secure  for  him  his  appropriate  and  prom- 
ised glories.  He  has  come  to  our  dark  and 
sinful  world  on  the  kindest  errand,  and  must 
be  honored  as  the  all-gracious,  all-powerful 
God.  It  is  written  of  him  "  He  shall  not 
speak  of  himself;"  and  though  he  has  but  just 
entered  on  his  career  of  wonders,  his  great 
work  bears  witness  of  him. 

It  was  a  day  never  to  be  forgotten  when  the 
Son  of  God  himself  tabernacled  among  men. 
Angels  announced  his  coming  with  songs  of  joy, 

6 


122  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

and  men  beheld  him  as  "  the  only-begotten  of 
the  Father,  full  of  grace  and  truth  ;"  they 
beheld  his  glory,  as  the  brightness  of  him 
Avho  is  invisible,  and  the  express  image  of  his 
person.  That  is  a  wondrous  description  of 
him  which  says.  He  is  the  "  light  of  the  world" 
and  the  "  life  of  men."  He  dwelt  among 
men,  formed  one  of  their  race  and  their  society, 
rejoiced  when  they  rejoiced,  and  wept  when 
they  wept.  They  cast  their  sorrows  upon 
him,  and  he  relieved  them  ;  their  diseases,  and 
he  healed  them  ;  they  laid  their  blind,  their 
deaf,  their  dead  at  his  feet,  and  he  bid  them 
see,  and  hear,  and  live.  They  went  to  him 
weary  and  heavy  laden,  and  he  gave  them 
rest ;  distressed  and  trembling,  and  he  said  to 
them,  "  Be  of  good  cheer,  thy  sins  are  for- 
given thee."  They  had  sweet  fellowship  with 
him  ;  they  hung  upon  his  lips  for  teaching ; 
for  every  want  and  every  woe,  he  gave  not 
as  the  world  gives.  It  was  God  dwelling 
with  man,  and  man  with  God.  What  a  day 
w^as  this  !  Blessed  were  their  eyes  that  saw 
him,  their  ears  that  heard  him ;  prophets  and 
kings  desired,  but  were  not  permitted  thus  to 
see  and  hear.  And  was  there  anything  yet 
in  reserve  for  men,  more  desirable,  more  joy- 
ous, more  glorious  than  such  things  as  these  ? 
Yes  there  was  one  representation  of  the  Deity, 
which,  though  it  could  not  be  more  resplen- 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.   MURRAY.  123 

dent,  was  effective  in  promoting  their  eternal 
well-being ;  more  joyous  than  even  to  have 
retained  among  them  this  ever-blessed  and 
adorable  Son  of  God.  "  It  is  expedient,"  says 
he,  "  that  I  go  away  ;  for  if  I  go  not  away,  the 
Comforter  will  not  come  !"  God  the  Com- 
forter— God  the  Spirit  of  truth  and  grace — 
God,  not  in  the  person  of  the  Father,  nor  in 
the  person  of  the  Son,  but  in  the  person  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  was  to  supersede  the  Saviour's 
presence.  The  great  workybr  his  people  had 
been  effected  by  God  the  Son  ;  the  great  work 
in  them  was  to  be  effected  by  God  the  Spirit. 
He  was  to  descend  and  fill  the  mighty  chasm 
made  by  the  Saviour's  absence,  that  the 
church  might  not  be  left  without  a  present 
Sanctifier,  nor  the  world  without  a  present 
God.  He  has  descended;  He  has  been  on 
the  earth  ever  since  the  Saviour's  departure 
from  it ;  He  dwells  upon  it  now ;  He  will 
dwell  upon  it  till  time  shall  be  no  more.  This 
earth  was  not  left  comfortless  ;  it  has  the  abid- 
ing Comforter.  His  presence  is  not  confined 
to  time  and  place,  as  the  Saviour's  was ;  He 
dwells  with  the  millions  of  his  churches,  and 
with  greater  millions  of  his  people,  in  every 
place  and  at  the  same  time',  and  he  never  de- 
parts. He  is  the  selected  and  honored  One 
to  carry  on  and  perfect  the  great  process  of 
man's  redemption.     The  work  of  Christ  is  ac- 


124  MEMOIR  OF    HANNAH   L.   MURRAY. 

complished  ;  the  work  of  the  Spirit,  without 
which  the  work  of  Christ  is  accomplished  in 
vain,  is  ever  performing.  We  do  not  give  the 
heed  we  ought,  nor  the  honor  they  deserve, 
to  His  glorious  Person  and  office.  He  is 
everywhere  in  this  guilty  world.  It  is  He 
who  broods  over  the  dark  lands  of  Paganism, 
and  prepares  them  to  cast  their  idols  to  the 
moles  and  the  bats.  It  is  He  who  restrains 
Christian  lands  from  going  back  to  Pagan  idol- 
otry  and  crime.  It  is  He  who  comforts  and 
sanctifies  all  the  comforted  and  sanctified  all 
over  the  earth.  It  is  He  who  regenerates  ;  and 
where  He  does  not  regenerate,  convinces  ;  and 
where  He  does  not  convince,  awakens  and 
alarms  ;  and  where  He  neither  awakens  nor 
alarms — if  such  an  instance  is  to  be  found  on 
the  records  of  time— restrains  the  wrath  of  man. 
His  conservative  influence  upon  our  world  is 
more  for  its  benefit  than  all  other  influences 
combined.  And  when  His  work  is  accom- 
plished, and  those  varied  and  extended  influ- 
ences are  all  withdrawn,  the  mystery  of  God 
will  be  perfected,  the  mediatorial  reign  of 
Jesus  Christ  will  come  to  its  close,  the  inhab- 
itants of  our  favored  world  will  all  be  fitted 
for  their  last  account,  and  will  all  be  called 
to  the  last  Judgment. 


CHAPTER   VII. 


HER    INTEREST    IN    THE    MISSIONARY    ENTERPRIZE. 


"  Come  then,  and,  added  to  thy  many  crowns. 
Receive  yet  one,  the  crown  ot'  all  the  earth  : 
Thou  who  alone  art  worthy.     'Twas  thine 
By  ancient  covenant  ere  nature's  birth  ; 
And  thou  hast  made  it  thine  by  purchase  since, 
And  overpaid  its  value  with  thy  blood." 


Miss  Murray  lived  in  the  age  of  Missions. 
She  had  reached  her  womanhood  when  the  first 
appeal  to  the  American  churches  was  made 
by  the  proposed  embarkation  of  the  Ameri- 
can missionaries  for  Calcutta,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners, 
in  the  year  1812.  The  earlier  and  not  less 
devoted  spirit  of  Elliot  and  Brainard  had  well 
nigh  died  away,  and  the  few  existing  riiis- 
sionary  institutions  in  our  land,  either  confined 
their  views  to  the  "  New  Settlements,"  or  at 
most  extended  them  to  some  few  tribes  of  the 
aboriginal  inhabitants  of  the  wilderness.  But 
the  time  had  come  when  the  perishing  nations 
of  the  earth  were  cared  for,  and  devout  men 
and  women  began  to  think,  and  pray,  and  act 
for  the  conversion  of  the  heathen. 


126  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

Nothing  roused  the  characteristic  ardor  of 
our  departed  friend,  more  than  the  cries  of  a 
dying  world.  As  has  been  seen  from  the  pre- 
ceding sketches,  there  was  no  want  of  enthu- 
siasm in  her  character.  What  she  felt,  she 
felt  deeply ;  and  what  she  did,  she  did  with  a 
single  and  undivided  heart.  Her  piety  was  far 
from  being  tame  and  cold  ;  it  not  only  had  few 
blemishes,  but  great  fervor.  "  How  strange 
is  it,"  says  she,  in  one  of  her  manuscript  medi- 
tations, "  that  all  should  agree  in  admiring 
earnestness,  perseverance,  nay,  even  enthusi- 
asm, in  the  affairs  of  the  world,  while  so  many 
frown  upon  it  in  the  more  important  affairs  of 
religion !  Those  who  are  deeply  impressed 
with  a  sense  of  the  immortal  concerns  of  the 
soul,  who  give  up  the  sinful  pleasures  of  earth, 
earnestly  inquire  the  way  to  Him,  and  are 
fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord,  are  deemed 
over-zealous  and  fanatics.  It  is  thought  un- 
reasonable to  suppose  that  God  demands  any 
more  of  our  time  and  thoughts  than  we  can 
spai'e  from  the  world  and  its  pursuits.  But 
what  a  perversion  of  that  reason  which  God 
has  given  us,  to  imagine  that  the  most  import- 
ant affair  of  our  life  should  demand  the  least 
attention,  and  that  the  great  purpose  for  which 
we  were  sent  into  the  world  should  scarcely 
occupy  our  minds  !  To  whom,  O  God,  should 
we  devote  our  lives,  if  not  to  Thee  ?  to  what 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  127 

should  we  give  the  flower  of  our  youth,  if  not 
to  thy  glory  ?  what  is  worthy  our  highest  love, 
if  Thou  art  not,  who  art  the  fountain  of  light 
and  life,  and  the  author  of  every  good  and 
perfect  gift  ?  In  what  work  should  we  engage 
with  all  our  soul,  and  strength,  and  mind,  if 
not  in  making  our  calling  and  election  sure  ? 
For  our  encouragement,  we  have  set  before  us 
the  everlasting  joys  of  thy  kingdom,  and  a 
throne  and  crow  n  for  him  that  overcometh ; 
wdiile  to  deter  us  from  forgetfulness  of  thee, 
w^e  have  the  awful  sentence  against  the  un- 
profitable servant.  Bind  him  hand  and  foot  and 
cast  him  into  outer  darhiess.  What  should 
most  pow^erfully  constrain  us  to  give  God  our 
most  ardent  love  and  our  w  hole  heart,  is  his 
unspeakable  gift  to  us — his  only  and  well  be- 
loved Son  as  the  propitiation  for  our  sins.  If 
we  he  beside  ourselves,  says  Paul,  it  is  for  your 
salces ;  for  the  love  of  Christ  constraineth  us. 
Who  can  recompense  the  love  which  passeth 
knowledge  ?  O  how  should  our  love  be  en- 
kindled at  the  thought  of  his  !  May  I  never 
be  tempted  to  think  that  I  can  do  too  much 
for  God ;  or  that  there  can  be  any  excess 
of  love  toward  my  Heavenly  Father ;  rather 
may  my  soul  be  humbled  when  I  reflect  upon 
my  short  comings,  and  that  after  my  best  ser- 
vices, I  must  confess  that  it  is  of  the  Lord's 
mercy  that  lam  not  consumed.     I  lament  that 


128  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

my  heart  is  so  cold  and  indifferent :  I  am 
astonished  at  myself  that  such  a  worm  of  the 
dust  should  not  have  her  spirit  more  humbled 
within  her.  How  wondrous  the  thought,  that, 
abject  and  vile  as  I  am,  through  rich  grace  I 
may  be  exalted  to  the  dignity  of  being  a 
worker  together  with  God  !" 

This  characteristic  fervor  and  humility  she 
carried  into  the  missionary  cause  ;  there  it 
found  an  augmented  impulse,  and  its  true  and 
proper  element.  She  was  not  only  a  well- 
informed,  but  a  devout  observer  of  the  provi- 
dence of  God.  I  cannot  ascertain  the  date 
under  which  she  made  the  following  remarks 
in  her  diary,  not  even  the  year.  "  What  a 
time  of  wonders  is  this  !  I  have  seen  kings 
hurled  from  their  thrones  and  ignominiously 
slaughtered ;  nobles  cast  down  and  trampled 
on  by  the  vile.  I  have  seen  usurpers  rioting 
upon  the  spoils  of  the  deposed,  and  with  fire 
and  sword  marching  to  continual  victories, 
and  so  proud  of  their  own  power  that  they 
dreamed  not  of  discomfiture.  I  have  seen  too, 
those  very  conquerors  routed  and  dismayed — 
those  before  whom  the  earth  trembled,  seek- 
ing safety  only  in  flight.  1  have  seen  the  op- 
pressed rising  in  their  strength  from  under  the 
yoke  of  the  oppressor,  and  their  rightful  rulers 
again  invested  with  power.  This  is  a  won- 
derful overturning ;    the    times  are   pregnant 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH    L.    MURRAY.  129 

with  great  events,  which  will  issue  in  the 
spread  of  the  gospel  and  the  prosperity  of 
Zion."  In  May,  1828,  she  writes  as  follows : 
"  I  have  now  to  record  the  goodness  of  God 
in  granting  me  the  desire  and  prayer  of  my 
heart,  that  when  the  supplies  for  suffering 
Greece  should  leave  our  shores,  a  blessing 
might  go  with  them  in  the  mission  of  one 
who  should  proclaim  to  them  the  glad  tidings 
of  the  great  salvation.  This  grand  object  is 
now  accomplished.  The  hand  of  God  is  in  it, 
and  especially  in  raising  up  one  so  well  quali- 
fied for  the  service.  God  has  been  very  mer- 
ciful in  opening  our  way  before  us,  and  has 
blest  us  his  handmaids  in  this  interesting  en- 
terprize.  Wilt  thou  not  make  it  a  blessing  to 
that  unhappy  and  apostate  land  ?  I  feel  the 
heavenly  reaction  of  this  poor  effort  in  draw- 
ing me  nearer  to  the  throne  of  grace,  and  in 
the  exercise  of  a  stronger  faith  that  the  king- 
doms of  this  world  shall  become  the  kingdoms 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  Not  far  from  the 
same  time  she  writes,  "  The  past  week  has 
been  one  of  deep  interest.  The  tribes  of  the 
land  have  come  up  to  this  city  of  our  solemni- 
ties to  commemorate  the  goodness  of  God,  and 
to  declare  the  wonders  he  has  done  for  the 
salvation  of  so  many  of  our  guilty  race.  These 
are  times  of  refreshing  for  God's  children. 
They  are  heart-enlivening  anniversaries.     O 

6* 


130  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

may  all  who  are  employed  in  these  institutions 
feel  that  it  is  not  by  might  nor  by  power,  but 
by  thy  Spirit  alone  that  they  can  prosper. 
This  is  the  appropriate  work  of  faith  and  labor 
of  love  ;  but  our  appropriate  song  is,  Not  unto 
us,  not  unto  us,  O  Lord,  but  to  thy  name  give 
glory  !"  Expressive  of  the  same  spirit  also, 
are  the  following  thoughts.  "  The  kingdoms 
of  this  world  shall  become  the  kingdoms  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  for  the  mouth  of  the 
Lord  hath  spoken  it.  Thou  hast  begun  this 
great  work,  O  Lord,  by  opening  the  under- 
standings and  hearts  of  the  people.  They  are 
moved  as  it  were  by  one  spirit  in  all  parts  of 
the  earth,  to  urge  forward  the  great  and  glo- 
rious work  of  spreading  the  savor  of  Jesus' 
name  in  all  parts  of  the  habitable  world.  The 
mists  of  ignorance  are  dispersing,  and  the  Sun 
of  righteousness  is  arising  upon  the  hitherto 
dark  nations  with  healing  in  his  beams.  O 
my  soul,  rejoice  thou  in  the  glorious  prospect 
when  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord  shall  fill  the 
earth  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea,  and  when 
from  the  rising  of  the  sun  to  the  going  down 
of  the  same  the  Lord's  name  shall  be  praised!" 
Of  a  kindred  character  are  the  following  sen- 
tences. "  The  heathen  shall  be  given  to  thy 
Son  for  his  inheritance,  and  the  uttermost 
parts  of  the  earth  for  his  possession.  In  what 
a  wonderful  manner  does  this  prediction  ap- 


MEMOIR  OP  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.  131 

pear  to  be  now  fulfilling  !  The  angel  is  flying 
through  the  heavens,  having  the  everlasting 
gospel  to  preach  to  all  nations,  and  kindred, 
and  people,  and  tongues.  The  Christian  world 
are  awaking  as  from  a  deep  sleep,  and  with 
one  voice  seem  to  inquire.  Lord,  what  wilt 
thou  have  me  to  do  ?  The  cry  of  the  poor 
heathen  has  entered  into  their  ears,  and  they 
seem  to  see,  with  Paul,  a  man  entreating  them 
to  come  over  and  help  them.  Thou  dost  work, 
and  who  shall  let  it."  On  the  departure  of  a 
little  band  of  missionaries,  in  1820,  she  writes, 
"  God  is  walking  forth  in  majesty ;  his  foot- 
steps are  marked  with  mercy  and  love.  He 
is  not  only  turning  the  heathen  to  himself,  but 
he  is  opening  a  great  effectual  door  among 
them,  and  disposing  a  number  of  his  devoted 
servants  to  go  and  preach  to  them  the  un- 
searchable riches  of  Christ.  O  may  thy  Spirit 
go  with  these  beloved  men  and  women,  teach- 
ing them  to  conduct  themselves  with  the 
meekness  of  wisdom,  and  holiness,  that  by 
their  chaste  conversation  in  Christ,  and  their 
holy  lives,  they  may  win  souls  to  him,  and 
honor  that  religion  they  teach  !" 

The  particular  missions  which  most  deeply 
interested  her,  were  the  mission  to  the  abo- 
riginees  of  our  own  continent,  the  mission  to 
the  Sandwich  Islands,  and  the  mission  to  the 
Jews.     She  sympathized  most  tenderly  in  the 


132  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

wrongs  which  the  Indians  of  the  South  and 
West  had  sustained  from  our  own  Govern- 
ment ;  nor  was  she  slow  to  express  her  grief 
and  indignation  at  the  course  which  it  pursued. 
She  felt  that  the  nation  was  degraded  and  dis- 
honored, and  that  it  had  provoked  God's 
judgments.  The  red  men  had  few  firmer  or 
warmer  friends  than  Miss  Murray.  Few  did 
more  for  their  moral  elevation ;  and  her  diary 
shows  how  greatly  she  rejoiced,  when,  after 
all  the  discouragements  which  attended  more 
modern  efforts  for  their  conversion,  some  of 
their  injured  tribes  consented  to  receive  the 
gospel  from  a  people  of  whom  they  had  so 
much  cause  to  complain.  Her  interest  in  the 
mission  at  the  Sandwich  Islands  was  early 
excited  by  the  fact,  that  among  the  early  mis- 
sionaries to  that  people,  were  her  young 
friends,  the  Rev.  Charles  Stuart  and  his  lady, 
whom  she  greatly  respected  and  loved.  She 
watched  the  progress  of  the  mission,  and  when 
the  intelligence  was  received,  that  there  had 
been  a  public  recognition  of  Christianity  as 
the  law  of  the  islands,  she  was  almost  frantic 
with  joy.  "  I  have  just  been  reading  letters," 
she  says,  "  from  the  islands  ;  and  the  intelli- 
gence is  as  astonishing  as  it  is  delightful. 
How  solemn  and  truly  aifccting  it  must  have 
been  to  have  beheld  an  assembled  nation  ac- 
knowledging the  authority  of  God's  word,  as 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L,  MURRAY.  133 

the  foundation  of  their  Code  of  Laws  !  What 
an  interesting  spectacle  to  see  the  king  of  this 
people  present  himself  before  them,  profess 
himself  a  disciple  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  publicly 
receive  the  seal  of  his  covenant,  and  in  an  un- 
reserved manner  dedicate  himself  to  God ! 
Here  is  indeed  a  nation  born  in  a  day — con- 
verted from  the  worship  of  dumb  idols  to 
serve  the  Living  God  !"  Yet  after  all  her  at- 
tachment to  other  departments  of  the  great 
work,  the  mission  to  the  Jews  was  the  object 
which  occupied  the  largest  place  in  her  heart. 
She  was  a  firm  believer  in  the  literal  restora- 
tion of  that  scattered  people  to  the  land  which- 
was  given  to  their  fathers.  She  wrote  largely 
on  this  subject ;  it  waked  up  all  her  devotional 
emotions,  and  poetic  fire.  "  Great  will  be 
the  power  and  grace  of  God,"  she  says,  "  when 
his  ancient  people  shall  have  the  vail  taken 
from  their  hearts,  and  the  scales  from  their 
eyes,  and  they  shall  see  the  king  in  his  beauty. 
Wonderful  indeed  will  be  the  day,  when 
Jews  themselves  shall  themselves  be  the 
swift  messengers  to  carry  the  knowledge  of 
salvation  to  the  unconverted  Gentile  lands. 
Will  not  this  be  as  life  from  the  dead  ?"  Again 
she  says,  -'Yet  will  I  bring  again  the  captivity 
of  Moab  in  the  latter  days,  saith  the  Lord. 
What  a  glorious  era  when  he  shall  gather  all 
his  captives  whither  he  has  scattered  them, 


134      MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

and  when  they  shall  be  the  Lord's  freemen  ! 
Have  respect,  O  God,  especially  to  thine  an- 
cient chosen  people,  that  they  may  be  brought 
in  with  the  fulness  of  the  Gentiles,  and  so  all 
Israel  shall  be  saved  !  Has  not  the  day  be- 
gun to  dawn,  when  his  outcasts  are  beginning 
to  look  on  him  they  have  pierced  ?" 

The  cause  of  missions  is  the  great  cause 
w^hich  is  destined  to  employ  the  time,  the 
talent,  the  wealth,  the  piety  of  the  Christian 
world.  It  is  a  department  by  itself;  a  science 
by  itself;  it  contains  more  germs  of  noble 
thought,  more  incentives  to  severe  and  un- 
wearied application  of  the  intellectual  powers, 
more  inducements  to  a  heavenly  and  disinter- 
ested piety,  and  a  stronger  stimulus  to  inde- 
fatigable effort  than  any  other  department  of 
Christian  labor,  the  pastoral  office  not  ex- 
cepted. In  our  own  church,  much  is  needed 
in  order  to  give  it  the  importance  and  the  im- 
pulse which  it  demands.  The  minds  of  our 
churches  are  accessible  to  its  claims;  they 
are  w^aiting  to  be  taught,  and  waiting  to  be 
moved. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

HER    BOUNTY,    AND    HER    INTEREST    IN    BENEVOLENT 
INSTITUTIONS. 


"  That  virtue  known 
By  the  relenting  look,  whose  equal  heart 
For  others  feels  as  for  another  self; 
Of  various  name,  as  various  objects  wake 
Warm  into  action  the  kindred  sense  within  : 
Whether  the  blameless  poor,  the  nobly  maim'd. 
The  lost  to  reason,  the  declined  in  life. 
The  helpless  young  that  know  no  mother's  hand, 
And  the  grey  second  infancy  of  age. 
She  goes  in  public  families  to  live, 
A  sight  to  gladden  heaven." 


IiNSTiTL'Tiojvs  foi'  the  relief  of  the  ignorant, 
the  poor,  and  the  diseased,  are  for  the  most 
part,  if  not  altogetlier,  the  fruit  of  Christianity. 
With  all  his  love  of  action  which  is  so  natural 
to  man,  and  which  is  one  of  the  happiest  prin- 
ciples in  his  physical  and  mental  constitution, 
it  is  not  benevolent  action  which  naturally 
occupies  his  thoughts,  nor  is  self-denying  labor 
the  sphere  which  he  spontaneously  chooses. 
"  They  are  all  gone  out  of  the  w^ay ;  they  are 
together  become  unprofitable ;  there  is  none 
that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one."  They  are  "  wise 
to  do  evil,  but  to  do  good  they  have  no  knowl- 
edge." 


136      MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

It  is  not  always  easy  to  distinguish,  in  actual 
life,  between  the  philanthropy  of  the  men  of 
the  world,  and  the  Christian  goodness  which 
is  the  fruit  of  God's  Spirit.  The  Christian 
character  is  not  formed  by  the  mere  reforma- 
tion of  the  outward  conduct.  It  is  not  the 
adoption  of  correct  opinions  of  Christianity 
that  forms  it,  nor  is  it  church  membership  un- 
der a  faithful  ministry.  Nor  are  religious  im- 
pressions pow^erfully  made,  nor  strong  emotions 
about  divine  things,  occasionally  felt,  the  sure 
indications  of  it.  Man  is  radically  apostate. 
There  is  an  essential  and  radical  diiference 
of  character  between  the  righteous  and  the 
wicked;  no  adventitious  circumstances,  and 
no  outward  modifications  of  his  depravity,  be 
they  ever  so  subdued,  amiable,  and  polished, 
effect  the  transformation,  without  which  every 
man  lives  to  himself  and  dies  to  himself.  Yet 
is  there,  in  perfect  consistency  with  this  su- 
premely selfish  spirit,  a  philanthroptj  to  which 
infidelity  itself  is  not  a  stranger ;  and  which 
has  a  name  and  a  place  in  minds  not  enlight- 
ened by  the  truth  of  God,  and  where  the 
heart  remains  unrenewed  and  unsanctified. 
Nor  is  there  any  stronger  proof  of  the  truth  of 
these  observations,  than  the  declaration  of  the 
Apostle  to  the  church  at  Corinth,  "  Though  I 
bestow  all  my  goods  to  feed  the  poor,  and 
have  not  charity,  it  profiteth  me  nothing." 


MEMOIR  OP  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.      137 

To  those  who  are  acquainted  with  the  na- 
ture and  force  of  the  Christian  principles 
which  actuated  Miss  Murray,  her  conduct  was 
in  keeping  with  her  character.  Her  motives 
were  Christian,  and  originated  from  love  to 
God  and  her  neighbor;  from  an  affectionate 
regard  to  the  divine  authority,  and  a  grateful 
view  of  her  obligations  to  Jesus  Christ.  She 
was  not  a  stranger  to  the  kind  and  philan- 
thropic impulses  of  humanity  ;  few  possessed 
more  of  them,  or  in  greater  tenderness  and 
refinement.  But  she  had  other  and  holier 
impulses  ;  affections  which,  because  they  cen- 
tered in  God,  expanded  themselves  upon  the 
creatures  he  has  made. 

It  was  her  religion  that  made  her  charita- 
ble, and  one  of  the  most  useful  of  women. 
"  Whoso  hath  this  world's  goods,  and  seeth 
his  brother  have  need,  and  shutteth  up  his 
bowels  of  compassion  from  him,  how  dwelleth 
the  love  of  God  in  him  ?"  Such  was  not  her 
character.  She  had  love  ;  she  had  penitence 
and  zeal ;  she  had  religious  experience ;  she 
was  a  woman  of  prayer ;  but  she  possessed 
also  a  large  measure  of  that  "  pure  and  unde- 
filed  religion  which  visits  the  fatherless  and 
widows  in  their  affliction,  and  keeps  itself  un- 
spotted from  the  world."  It  was  not  a  showy, 
but  an  effective  religion.  And  it  was  her 
habitual  character.     Not  more  did  it  belong  to 


138  MEMOIR  OP   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

the  employments  of  every  year,  and  week, 
and  day,  to  read  the  Scriptures,  to  frequent 
the  house  of  God,  and  to  hold  secret  inter- 
course with  him,  than  it  did,  "  as  she  had  op- 
portunity, to  do  good  unto  all,  especially  to 
those  of  the  household  of  faith."  Her  con- 
science and  heart  were  as  thoroughly  disci- 
plined to  this  service,  as  they  were  to  family 
worship,  or  to  the  devout  commemoration  of 
the  love  and  sacrifice  of  her  atoning  Lord. 

It  is  not  probable  that  one  half  her  bounty 
is  known  ;  yet  enough  is  known,  not  only  to 
indicate  her  liberal  heart,  but  to  furnish  sat- 
isfactory evidence  that  she  habitually  sought 
the  divine  direction  in  dispensing  her  charities. 
So  far  as  the  writer  is  able  to  form  any  judg- 
ment of  her  character  in  this  particular,  her 
only  failing  was  that  she  sometimes  bestowed 
her  bounty  too  indiscriminately ;  it  cost  her 
pain  to  refuse,  and  none  to  bestow. 

Her  manuscripts  abundantly  indicate  that 
she  consecrated  all  her  possessions  to  God,  to 
be  employed  for  him,  as  his  providence  might 
call  for  them.  The  following  are  exemplifica- 
tions of  this  spirit.  "  I  would  unreservedly 
dedicate  my  all  to  thee ;  and  give  up  all 
things  for  Christ's  sake."  "  O  Lord,  I  am  less 
than  the  least  of  all  thy  mercies.  I  am  aston- 
ished and  confounded  when  I  contemplate 
myself,  that  thou  hast  so  loaded  me  with  bless- 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  139 

ings.  Thou  hast  blessed  me  with  uninter- 
rupted temporal  prosperity,  and  given  me  abun- 
dantly of  the  good  things  of  this  world.  I 
pray  to  be  enabled  to  remember  that  I  am  but 
a  steward ;  and  thou  will  require  of  me  an  ac- 
count of  the  manner  in  which  I  have  distribu- 
ted the  gifts  of  thy  bounty,  and  whether  I 
endeavor  to  do  all  things  to  thy  glory,  and 
thus  fulfil  the  end  of  my  being."  Again,  she 
writes,  "  What  are  earthly  treasures  compared 
with  the  pearl  of  great  price  ?  O  that  I  may 
be  enabled  to  use  this  world  as  not  abusing  it, 
and  make  a  right  use  of  the  mammon  of 
unrighteousness  !"  Again  she  says,  "  I  know 
that  this  world  is  a  snare,  and  that  it  becomes 
us  to  walk  circumspectly.  Merciful  Father, 
give  me  a  disposition  to  work  while  it  is  day, 
feeling  with  Nehemiah,  that  I  have  a  great 
work  to  do,  and  that  herein  thou  art  glorified, 
when  thy  children  bring  forth  much  fruit. 
Give  me  a  heart,  O  Lord,  to  devote  my  sub- 
stance and  strength  to  thy  service,  that  I  may 
glorify  thee  in  my  body  and  spirit  which  are 
thine  !"  Again  she  writes,  "  His  grace  is  not 
only  sufficient  for  us  in  adversity,  but  in  pros- 
perity. He  can  give  us  an  humble  spirit,  and 
make  us  instrumental  of  good  in  his  hands, 
by  rendering  us  faithful  stewards  of  the 
riches  he  has  committed  to  us,  so  that  our 
light  may  shine  before  men." 


140      MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

I  have  not,  in  her  voluminous  manuscripts, 
found  one  solitary  record  of  her  bounty  ;  but  it 
abounds  with  grateful  acknowledgments  of 
God's  goodness,  fervent  desires  that  she  might 
wisely  employ  it,  and  not  a  few  thoughts  here 
and  there  scattered,  expressive  of  her  solicitude, 
her  pious  fear,  lest,  amidst  all  her  abundance 
in  temporal  things,  God  should  suifer  them  to 
ensnare  her  and  send  leanness  into  her  soul. 
She  was  afraid  of  overgrown  wealth  ;  and  has 
often  been  heard  to  say,  that  "  she  did  not  see 
why  people  so  eagerly  desired  to  be  rich."  I 
have  myself  heard  her  make  the  remark,  that 
"  she  did  not  know  what  money  was  good  for, 
except  to  give  away."  There  was  a  period, 
during  some  heavy  assessments  upon  her 
landed  property,  in  which  she  felt  herself 
cramped  in  her  charities;  and  I  well  remem- 
ber her  remark,  that  "  she  did  not  care  for  it, 
only  as  it  embarrassed  her  in  some  of  her 
subscriptions."  She  had  no  thought  of  hoard- 
ing :  I  do  not  believe  the  thought  ever  seri- 
ously entered  her  mind  of  a  surjyJus  income. 
It  was  dedicated  property.  So  far  from  desir- 
ing, or  having  any  superfluous  income,  she 
often  put  her  industry,  her  frugality,  her  in- 
vention to  the  test  in  order  to  enlarge  her 
means  of  doing  good.  She  often  gave  more 
than  her  proportion;  and  she  felt  that  she 
must    do   so,  because    others   gave    so  little. 


MEMOIR  OP    HANNAH    L.    MURRAY.  141 

Many  a  time,  after  having  first  set  a  noble  ex- 
ample of  liberality,  has  she  patiently  solicited 
others  for  their  assistance  in  promoting  some 
important  benevolent  enterprise  ;  and,  disap- 
pointed and  chagrined,  supplied  the  necessary 
amount  from  her  own  purse.  And  the  beauty 
of  her  charities  was  that  she  w^as  so  cheerful 
and  so  unostentatious  a  giver. 

The  demands  upon  her  bounty  w^ere  nume- 
rous. Besides  her  kindness  to  individuals, 
some  of  w  horn,  until  she  made  them  almost 
her  adopted  children,  were  strangers,  and 
besides  her  acts  of  kindness  to  her  pastor  and 
his  family,  wdiich  w^ere  neither  few  nor  small, 
her  charities  were  chiefly  bestowed  on  a  So- 
ciety of  ladies,  instituted  for  the  relief  of  poor 
Widows  with  small  children  ;  on  the  American 
Bible  and  Tract  societies ;  on  the  American 
Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions  ; 
on  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  ;  on  the  American  Education 
Society,  instituted  for  the  assistance  of  poor  and 
pious  men  in  their  preparation  for  the  gospel 
ministry  ;  on  the  American  Sabbath  School 
Union ;  on  the  Society  for  meliorating  the 
condition  of  the  Jews ;  and  on  a  local  society 
for  the  establishment  and  sustenance  of  Infant 
Schools.  She  was  among  the  founders  of 
some  of  these  institutions ;  of  some  of  them 
she  w^as  one  of  the  indefatigable  and  perse- 


142       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

vering  managers  till  her  death  ;  and  in  all  of 
them  she  was  actively  engaged.  She  was 
beloved  and  honored  by  all  associated  with 
her  in  these  societies,  and  scrupulously  con- 
scientious in  doing  her  duty  in  them  all.  She 
devoted  herself  to  them  from  a  conviction  of 
duty,  and  exercised  no  small  degree  of  self- 
denial  in  the  discharge  of  it.  Many  things  in 
these  spheres  of  labor  were  repugnant  to  her 
own  feelings  and  habits,  and  greatly  repug- 
nant to  her  distrust  of  her  own  powers ;  while 
others  were  satisfied  of  her  remarkable  fitness 
for  the  things  in  which  she  most  doubted  her- 
self. That  she  did  not  enter  upon  these  du- 
ties thoughtlessly,  is  evident  from  many  pas- 
sages in  her  diary,  from  which  we  quote  only 
the  following  paragraph  :  "  My  earnest  desire 
is  to  do  all  things  to  God's  glory  ;  and  now  hav- 
ing associated  myself  with  some  others  for  the 
purpose  of  administering  to  the  necessities  of 
my  fellow-creatures,  I  humbly  pray  that  I 
may  be  influenced  by  a  love  to  Him.  I  would 
have  an  abiding  sense  of  his  presence ;  that 
if  I  should  be  called  at  any  time  to  services 
humbling  to  the  flesh,  I  may  feel  that  it  is 
better  to  obey  God  than  man,  and  to  be  wil- 
ling to  become  a  fool  for  Christ's  sake.  In 
this  new  association,  may  he  grant  that  har- 
mony and  love  may  prevail ;  that  we  may  be 
a  band  of  sisters  united  in  Christ  Jesus,  our 


MEMOIR  OP   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  143 

glorious  and  blessed  Head  ;  that  we  may  be 
the  means  of  dispensing,  not  only  temporal, 
but  spiritual  comfort,  thus  glorifying  our  Heav- 
enly Father  by  imitating  the  example  of  our 
blessed  Master." 

In  these  labors  of  love  Miss  Murray  will 
long  be  remembered  by  her  associates.  A 
lady  of  kindred  spirit  with  her,  the  widow  of 
the  late  Divie  Bethune,  remarked  to  the 
writer  not  long  since,  with  great  emphasis, 
"  When  we  lost  Miss  Murray,  I  felt  that  I  had 
lost  my  right  hand.  O,  sir,  she  was  true.  She 
stood  by  me  to  the  last !"  A  communication 
received  from  this  lady  is  best  presented  in 
her  own  words. 

To  Rev.  Dr.  Spring. 

Dear  Sir  : — Indisposition  and  the  multitude 
of  calls  on  my  time  at  this  season,  must  plead 
my  excuse  for  not  having  sooner  complied 
with  your  request.  Be  assured  that  it  would 
afford  me  much  pleasure  and  gratify  my  desire 
to  do  justice  to  the  character  of  my  highly 
esteemed  and  deeply  regretted  Christian  friend, 
the  late  Miss  Hannah  Murray.  But  I  can  only 
enumerate  her  many  charitable  deeds,  con- 
nected with  her  uniform  Christian  character 
and  her  highly  valued  friendship,  the  remem- 
brance of  which  I  still  cherish,  and  leave  you 
to  make  what  use  you  please  of  it. 


144       MEMOIR  OP  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

My  earliest  remembrance  of  both  Miss 
Miirrays  is  their  being  among  my  beloved 
mother's  first  pupils  in  this  city.  My  next  is 
the  deep  interest  taken  by  Mrs.  Susan  Ogden 
as  Directress  and  the  Miss  Murrays  as  Man- 
agers of  the  House  of  Industry ;  an  institu- 
tion  which  proved  eminently  beneficial  to 
those  whose  husbands  were  engaged  in  the 
war  between  Great  Britain  and  this  country. 
Not  only  were  the  industrious  poor  preserved 
from  the  degradation  of  street  begging  or  be- 
coming inmates  of  the  alms  house,  but  many 
learned  trades  which  proved  a  support  to  them 
in  after  life.  Both  Miss  Murrays  were  among 
our  highest  subscribers  in  money,  and  by 
numerous  gifts  of  fancy  articles  made  by  them, 
added  hundreds  of  dollars  to  our  treasury. 
It  was  for  the  benefit  of  that  institution  that 
the  first  fancy  fair  was  held  in  this  city.  I 
refer  you  to  the  constitution  of  the  society  for 
further  information. 

Miss  Hannah  Murray  also  was  a  manager 
in  the  Sabbath  Schools,  and  when  we  divided 
the  city  into  four  districts,  and  maps  placed  in 
each  for  those  who  would  engage  in  Bible 
and  Sunday  School  associations,  she  had  a  dis- 
trict assigned  to  her,  and  submitted  to  be 
called  on,  and  to  point  out  districts  not  yet 
occupied,  to  those  who  wished  to  be  engaged  in 
so  good  a  work,  without  interfering  with  others. 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  145 

In  all  these  labors  we  were  associated ;  but  it 
was  when  the  solitary  widow  sought  to  find  em- 
ployment, in  feeding  Christ's  lambs,  that  I  found 
Miss  Murray  all  that  I  wished  as  the  sympa- 
thizing friend  and  treated  with  the  deference 
and  respect  she  considered  I  w^as  entitled  to. 

When  the  Infant  School  Society  was  estab- 
lished, and  I  have  always  considered  her  as 
one  of  its  founders,  I  was  in  hopes  that  the 
gentlemen  would  have  got  up  the  society, 
and  that  our  sex  should  have  been  helps 
meet  for  them  in  this  service.  After  waiting 
more  than  a  year  and  having  had  a  public 
meeting,  my  plans  and  documents  which  I  had 
imparted  were  returned  to  me,  and  the  reason 
given  that  the  public  School  Society  declined 
engaging  in  the  work.  I  then  determined  at 
my  own  expense  to  commence  a  small  school, 
that  the  system  might  be  made  known  and 
schools  on  a  larger  scale  established.  She 
immediately  came  forward,  and  offered  time, 
talents,  and  substance.  Subscribing  liberally 
herself  and  inducing  others  to  do  the  same, 
she  asked  me  how  much  I  would  require  to 
open  a  school.  I  said  if  only  $300  were  col- 
lected I  would  pledge  my  word  to  make  a 
beginning.  The  money  was  collected,  and 
she  became  our  treasurer,  and  gave  her  atten- 
tion to  the  institution,  and  in  every  way  held 
up  my  hands  while  she  lived. 
7 


146  MEMOIR    OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

She  was  indeed  a  judicious  counsellor  in 
private,  while  she  held  up  my  hands  in  public. 
She  had  a  ready  wit,  and  when  any  little  dif- 
ference would  occur,  she  would  in  a  playful 
manner  give  a  turn  to  the  argument  that 
caused  what  was  meant  as  a  frown  to  result 
in  a  smile.  She  was  my  neighbor,  and  when 
difficulties  pressed  on  me  I  would  stop  on  my 
way,  and,  conversing  with  her,  all  my  difficul- 
ties would  vanish,  and  I  would  return  to  my 
solitary  home,  mentally  saying,  "  Well,  blessed 
be  God,  I  have  one  dear  friend  who  stands  by 
me." 

During  ten  years  we  took  sweet  counsel 
together,  but  the  time  drew  nigh  when  this 
dear  friend  was  to  be  taken  from  me. 

She  had  a  lingering  illness,  and  I  was  not 
permitted  to  see  her  till  all  hope  of  her  recov- 
ery was  past.  I  then  was  privileged  to  sit  by 
her  bed,  and  hold  her  hand.  She  could  not 
see  me,  but  felt  the  pressure  of  my  hand,  and 
heard  the  sob  I  could  not  repress.  She  said 
Who  ?  On  being  told,  she  returned  the  press- 
ure, and  recollecting  even  in  death  our  long 
friendship,  said  with  faltering  tongue,  "  Jesus 
stand  by  you."  Thus  departed  my  dear, 
faithful  friend,  Hannah  L.  Murray,  and  no 
doubt  received  the  plaudit.  Well  done,  good 
and  faithful  servant,  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of 
thy  Lord.     May  my  latter  end  be  like  hers ! 


MEMOIR  OP  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.  147 

The  Infant  School  was  not  forgotten  Dy  her, 
but  to  it  she  bequeathed  a  legacy  of  $500. 
Yours  respectfully, 

J.  Bethune. 

The  following  are  the  testimonials  of  some 
of  the  societies  in  which  she  took  an  active 
part,  and  which  show  the  estimation  in  which 
she  was  held  by  their  respective  Boards  of 
Direction.  That  of  the  Female  Auxiliary 
Bible  Society,  of  which  she  was  one  of  the 
principal  founders,  I  have  not  been  able  to 
procure,  as  their  report  for  the  year  in  which 
Miss  Murray  was  taken  from  us  was  not  pub- 
lished. At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  the 
"  Infant  School  Society,"  held  June  15th, 
1836,  the  following  resolution  was  unani- 
mously adopted.  "  That  this  Board  deeply 
lament  the  loss  of  Miss  Hannah  L.  Murray, 
their  late  efficient  treasurer.  From  the  com- 
mencement of  the  society,  she  not  only  ful- 
filled the  duties  of  treasurer,  but  was  a  most 
judicious  counsellor ;  and  by  her  uniform 
cheerfulness  and  regular  attendance,  set  an 
example  to  her  associates,  which  they  sin- 
cerely hope  they  may  emulate ;  that  when 
their  w  ork  is  done,  it  may,  like  that  of  their 
lamented  friend,  be  ivell  done.''  The  follow- 
ing is  an  extract  from  the  39th  report  of  the 
*•'  Widows'  Society."     While    your  managers 


148  MEMOIR   OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

record,  with  thankfulness,  the  many  mercies 
and  blessings  of  the  past  year,  it  is  with  feel- 
ings of  the  deepest  sorrow,  that  they  announce 
the  death  of  their  late  secretary.  Miss  Hannah 
L.  Murray.  Since  the  foundation  of  this  in- 
stitution, she  has  proved  herself  one  of  its 
warmest  friends,  and  most  active,  energetic 
laborers.  In  her  were  united  the  kindest  and 
most  tender  feelings,  with  the  greatest  firm- 
ness and  decision ;  and  to  her  superior  judg- 
ment, the  society  looked  with  veneration  and 
respect.  In  trouble,  her  firm  faith  and  depen- 
dence cheered  their  drooping  spirits ;  and 
when  their  prospects  were  bright,  none  re- 
joiced with  a  more  holy  joy.  She  is  now 
numbered  with  the  dead  who  have  died  in 
the  Lord.  She  rests  from  her  labors,  and 
while  her  works  do  follow  her,  the  effects  of 
them  will  long  be  felt  in  the  Widows'  Society, 
and  prove  a  strong  incentive  to  others  to  walk 
after  her  example.  No  longer  able  to  aid  the 
society  by  her  active  exertions,  she  has  been 
mindful  of  it  to  the  last  in  the  bequest  of  one 
thousand  dollars." 

"  The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed."  Such 
a  philanthropist  could  not  be  overlooked  in  her 
life,  nor  forgotten  in  her  death.  Piety  is  not 
always  the  door  to  fame,  but  deeds  like  hers 
will  be  remembered  when  the  "  name  of  the 
wicked  shall  rot." 


CHAPTER   IX. 


HER    MISCELLANEOUS    POETRY. 


'  Virtue  could  see  to  do  what  virtue  would 
By  her  own  light,  though  sun  and  moon 
Were  in  the  great  sea  sunk.     And  Wisdom's  self 
Oft  seeks  to  secret,  retired  solitude, 
Where  with  her  best  nurse  Contemplation 
She  plumes  her  feathers,  and  lets  grow  her  wings." 


Everything  is  beautiful  in  its  season.  We 
have  alluded  to  Miss  Murray's  versatility  of 
genius ;  nor  can  we  exhibit  her  true  character 
without  presenting  the  following  specimens 
of  her  miscellaneous  poetry. 

A  PASTORAL. 

"How  cool  is  the  evening  breeze, 

How  soft  are  the  strains  it  conveys. 
How  mild  looks  the  moon  through  the  trees, 
How  soothing  sweet  Philomel's  lays. 

"Blest  season,  I  hail  thee  with  joy  ; 
Sweet  warbler,  continue  thy  strains  ; 
O  let  no  rude  passions  annoy. 

The  tranquil  delight  which  now  reigns. 

"  But  did  she  not  promise  to  come, 

When  the  moon  gently  gleam'd  on  yon  tow'r, 


150  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

And  will  she  unkind  let  me  roam, 
Without  her,  from  bow'r  to  bow'r  ? 

"0  \yhy  did  she  smile  when  she  said. 
Dear  Henry,  my  heart  is  thy  own  ? 
With  a  kiss  the  confession  I  paid, 
And  trusted  in  Anna  alone. 

"  But  0,  if  such  smiles  can  deceive. 
And  sweetness  so  pure  can  betray. 
Never  more  woman's  vows  I'll  believe, 
Never  more  hail  with  transport  the  day. 

"  But  hark !  sure  a  nistling  is  near  ; 
Why  beats  so  tumultuous  my  heart  ? 
'Tis  she,  'tis  her  voice  that  I  hear, 
'Tis  she,  and  we  never  will  part. 

"  Ye  Powers,  watch  over  our  love. 
And  be  our  kind  guardians  still : 
My  Anna  is  true,  and  will  prove, 
A  solace  in  every  ill." 


A    DREAM. 

"My  mind  on  various  thoughts  had  turn'd, 
When  thus  the  fate  of  man  I  mourn'd. 
Unhappy  being,  who  art  here 
Nought  but  distress  and  grief  to  bear ! 
Why  wert  thou  made  ?  0  hapless  man. 
There  's  nought  on  earth  for  thee  but  pain  [ 

"  While  thus  I  mused,  my  weary  eyes 
By  sleep  were  made  a  willing  prize  ; 
The  scene  was  chang'd,  the  gloom  dispell'd. 
And  every  murmuring  feeling  quell'd  ; 
My  heart  with  transport  seemed  to  bound. 
And  all  appear'd  enchantment  round. 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  151 

Soft  music  floated  on  each  breeze, 
And  brighter  verdure  deck'd  the  trees  : 
The  violet  raised  its  drooping  head, 
Its  fragrance  round  the  city  spread. 
Soft  was  the  zephyr  on  his  wing 
As  in  the  gentle  blush  of  spring. 
And  every  shrub  and  every  flower 
Seemed  touch'd  by  some  superior  power ; 
Wlien  sudden  shone  celestial  light. 
Whose  streaming  radiance  fixed  my  sight. 
My  heart  with  awful  rapture  glow'd, 
While  to  the  earth  my  face  I  bow'd : 
The  silence  dread  at  once  was  broke. 
When  thus  the  heavenly  vision  spoke. 

"  Thy  plaints  are  heard,  presumptuous  youth, 
Now  listen  to  the  voice  of  truth  ; 
And  know  that  He  who  rules  the  skies. 
Makes  order  from  confusion  rise, 
Bids,  from  the  darkest  night  profound 
His  Righteous  Sun  to  shine  around. 
And  when  he  calls  his  children  hence, 
From  scenes  of  vanity  and  sense, 
He  crowns  them  with  his  richest  love 
la  realms  of  endless  bliss  above. 

"  Thus  spoke  the  heavenly  vision  fair. 
And  vanished  with  the  passing  air." 


TO  COL.  R 'S  WIG. 

"  Hail,  gentle  wig  !  may  no  rude  wight. 
E'er  twirl  thee  from  thy  custom'd  height, 
But  long  thy  curls  in  order  lay, 
Upon  a  forehead  fair  as  day. 
Full  often  mayst  thou  keep  from  harm 
The  head  which  thou  wert  made  to  warm ; 


152       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

And  if  a  friend  her  wish  could  have, 
For  all  thou  art  a  thing  so  grave, 
Thou  shouldst  wiih  wit  inspired  be, 
To  make  thy  wearer  pleased  with  thee ; 
Each  hair  in  sympathy  should  rise. 
When  scenes  of  honor  greet  his  eyes  ; 
And  when  his  mind  serenely  gay. 
Thy  locks  in  placid  curls  should  lay ; 
Thus  varying  with  his  varying  soul. 
But  always  under  his  control ; 
And  should  thy  touch  sometimes  convey 
A  thought  of  her  who  penn'd  this  lay. 
Then  while  I  live  I  '11  praise  thee  well, 
And  on  thy  magic  virtues  dwell." 


DREAM  OF  A  DECEASED  FRIEND. 

"  Last  night,  when  on  my  downy  bed 
I  gently  laid  my  weary  head, 
The  prince  of  slumbers  waved  his  hand, 
And  bore  me  from  the  blooming  land. 
I  soon  was  hurried  down  the  tide. 
And  on  the  waters  deep  did  ride. 
To  speed  our  course  the  fav'ring  gales 
Breath'd  in  the  bosom  of  the  sails. 
When  a  fair  city  rose  to  view. 
Whose  glittering  spires  full  well  I  knew. 
In  vision  blest  thy  form  appear'd, 
And  thy  endearing  voice  I  heard, 
Thy  opening  arms  enclos'd  me  straight. 
Our  hearts  with  warmest  friendship  beat. 
How  didst  thou  strain  me  to  thy  breast, 
While  on  thy  countenance  express'd 
Was  that  wann  welcome  which  I  know. 
Would  from  thy  gentle  bosom  flow. 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  153 

While  thus  encircled  by  thy  arm, 
And  freed  from  all  that  could  alarm, 
I  lay  enraptured  at  thy  sight, 
And  coursinof  o'er  with  fond  delio^ht, 
The  pleasures  other  times  had  brought, 
And  tracing  every  youthful  thought — 
Some  demon,  envious  of  my  bliss. 
Ere  I  could  take  the  profFer'd  kiss, 
Snatch'd  from  my  eyes  the  vision  sweet. 
And  left  me  nothing  but  regret. 

"  Yet  still,  dear  friend,  though  lost  to  view, 
My  heart  will  keep  thine  image  true. 

Why  is  it  that  thy  angel  form. 
So  oft  in  dreams  salutes  my  eye  ? 

Why,  but  my  better  part  to  warm. 
And  raise  my  thoughts  beyond  the  sky." 


ON  THE  RETURN  OF  SPRING. 

"  Lo  !  Spring  appears  :  behold  she  comes  again 
Clad  in  her  blooming  robe  of  varied  sweets : 
Pleas'd  her  dread  sire  to  charm,  and,  smiling,  crown 
With  chaplets  green  his  venerable  head. 
And  by  her  never-failing  powers  disperse 
The  chilling  frosts  that  circle  round  his  brow. 
How  light  she  bounds,  and  by  her  magic  touch 
Bids  blooming  flowers  arise  to  bless  her  reign  ; 
Bids  fragrance  sweet  perfume  the  gentle  air. 
And  nature  rise  in  triumph  from  her  bed 
Of  dull  repose  ;  and  laughing,  hail  the  warmth 
That  bade  their  beauties  grow  luxuriant. 
No  long  winter's  howling  wounds  the  ear. 
Nor  summer's  scorching  suns  infection  breed, 
But  all  is  softness,  love,  and  gentle  spring." 
7* 


154  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

WRITTEN  IN  THE  ALBUM  OF  A  YOUNG  FRIEND. 

"  You  ask  me  to  write,  but  the  muses  have  flown, 
And  have  crush'd  all  my  liopes,  all  my  plans  overthrown ; 
But  perhaps  if  I  search  in  my  brain  I  may  find 
Some  scrap  snugly  hid,  in  their  haste  left  behind. 

"  Aye,  here  I  have  found  one,  but  not  worth  a  pin, 
'Tis  all  rumpled  without,  all  confusion  within  : 
But  I  '11  try  to  decipher  these  marks  of  the  Nine, 
And  when  that  is  ended,  declare  they  are  mine. 

"  They  sing  of  the  charms  which  the  mind  should  adorn. 
When  beauty  is  brilliant,  and  life  in  its  morn ; 
When  the  heart  is  all  rapture,  the  soul  all  on  fire, 
And  eager  to  seize  what  the  passions  desire. 

"When  fancy  displays  all  her  varied  delights, 
And  fond  expectation  the  young  mind  invites 
To  partake  of  its  joys  while  life's  current  is  warm, 
Nor  dash  from  its  lips  what  its  troubles  can  charm. 

"  0  listen,  dear  maid,  to  the  caution  they  give  : 
Trust  not  to  these  transports,  they  always  deceive ; 
But  look  well  to  thj^  heart ;  for  beneath  this  fair  show, 
The  seeds  of  corruption  and  sorrow  will  grow. 

"  And  strengthen  thyself  in  the  strength  of  the  Lord, 
And  strive  for  those  blessings  reveal'd  in  his  word ; 
And  seek  those  pure  pleasures  which  never  can  end, 
By  looking  to  God,  as  thy  Saviour  and  friend." 


LINES 


Occasioned  by  an  olive  branch  from  Bethany,  presented  to  the  author  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  King,  missionary  from  Palestine. 

"  While  on  this  little  olive  branch  I  gaze, 
My  heart  is  moved  to  love,  my  lips  to  praise. 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.  155 

What  holy  recollections  fill  my  mind  ! 
Of  triumphs  many,  and  of  griefs  combined  ! 
How  oft  the  Saviour,  'mid  thy  kindred  shade, 
Retir'd  from  man,  for  guilty  man  has  pray'd  ; 
Whole  nights  with  fever'd  spirit  sought  his  God, 
And  felt  his  frame  by  heavenly  strength  renew'd. 
What  blest  hosannahs  flow'd  from  every  tongue, 
When  as  a  conq'ror  'mid  th'  admiring  throng, 
The  Lord  descending»from  the  mount  Avas  seen. 
While  o'er  his  path  was  strew'd  this  peaceful  green. 
Whene'er  I  look  upon  thy  silv'ry  leaf. 
May  I  remember  all  my  Saviour's  grief. 
Remember  how  he  agonized  for  man 
And  finish'd  on  the  cross  his  wond'rous  plan; 
Brought  in  an  everlasting  I'ighteousness, 
Bequeathing  to  his  friends  eternal  peace  ; 
Then  burst  the  bands  of  death,  in  life  appear'd. 
With  words  of  comfort  his  disciples  cheer'd. 
Then  blest  them ;  and  while  they  gazing  stood, 
Veil'd  in  a  cloud  of  glory  rose  to  God." 


ON  REFUSING  TO  READ    HER  JOURNAL  TO  HER  SISTER 

"Let  not  a  paltry  journal  cause 
A  breach  upon  love's  tender  laws. 
Nor  let  thy  mind  with  keenness  feel 
Those  words  which  in  an  over  zeal 
For  darling  self  were  uttered  ; 
My  foolish  heart  was  fluttered. 
And  felt  as  if  a  feeble  fly 
Would  make  its  courage  faint  and  die. 
But  sure  I  'd  rather  wound  that  heart, 
And  bid  that  selfish  pride  to  smart. 
Than  cause  a  sister's  breast  to  know 
One  thought  unkind,  one  painful  throe. 


156       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

Let  each  ungentle  feeling  cease, 

And  love  restore  our  hearts  to  peace !" 


PLACED  IN  MR.  R.'S  HAT,  IN  ANSWER  TO  HIS  DREAM. 

"  Go  to  the  Druid's  cave,  there  pay  thy  vow  ; 
And  low  before  his  holy  altar  bow ; 
But  first  propitiate  the  aged  sire 
With  fragrant  herbs  ;  then  stiike  the  sounding  lyre, 
And  all  the  woods  around  with  melody  inspire. 
Then  will  his  soul  be  roused,  and  accents  fair 
Will  all  the  vision  of  thy  dream  declare, 
And  if  thy  heart  be  true,  and  constant  prove, 
The  doves  which  fluttered  in  the  air  above, 
Shall  flit  before  thee  and  pronounce  the  name 
Of  her  who  is  to  fan  the  sacred  flame." 


ON  READING  A  POEM  ENTITLED  FANNY. 

'  Dear  Croaker,  all  that  thou  canst  say, 
Will  never  turn  me  from  the  way, 
That  leads  to  pleasures  of  the  mind, 
Pleasures  lasting,  and  refined. 
For  while  I  range  the  copious  field. 
Which  nature  and  her  wonders  yield, 
My  soul  enjoys  more  pure  delight, 
Receives  more  knowledge  and  more  light, 
Than  if  I  read  with  studious  care. 
Ten  thousand  tales  like  Fanny  fair. 
In  yon  immeasurable  space, 
My  eager  eyes  with  wonder  trace, 
Unnumber'd  worlds,  revolving:  briofht. 
Some  shining  in  their  proper  light. 
Obedient  to  their  Maker's  will. 
In  sound  harmonious  speak  his  skill ; 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       157 

Who  witli  a  power  divine  commands, 
And  all  in  perfect  order  stands. 
He,  when  the  orbs  began  their  course. 
First  gave  them  their  propelling  force  ; 
But  lest  these  spheres  should  erring  stray, 
Through  boundless  ether's  trackless  way, 
An  equal  pow'r,  with  wondrous  art. 
He  placed  within  a  central  part. 
Which  drew  them  with  a  magic  sway. 
To  blend  in  his  superior  ray. 
And  these  contending  forces  join'd. 
The  wandering  planet  strait  confin'd, 
To  move  in  constant  circles,  round 
The  glorious  centre,  it  had  found. 
Here  what  a  flood  of  light  pours  in  ; 
What  wonders  view'd,  before  unseen  ;  *■ 
Which  lead  the  mind  with  rapid  flight. 
To  soar  above  these  orbs  of  light ; 
Till  with  the  mighty  thoughts  oppress'd. 
It  finds  in  God  alone  its  rest. 
When  calm  returning  to  the  earth. 
It  sees  new  beauties  spring  to  birth. 
His  face  its  glowing  charms  displays. 
Gilt  by  the  sun's  refulgent  rays  : 
The  different  plants,  with  skill  unknown. 
Select  that  ray  they  call  their  own ; 
And  deck'd,  as  by  a  hand  divine. 
Graceful,  in  borrow'd  tints  they  shine. 
If  we  descend  its  caverns  deep, 
AVhat  precious  gems  within  them  sleep  ; 
Spreading  around  their  darksome  bed, 
The  glowing  light  their  crystals  shed. 
There  too,  conceal'd  from  human  eye, 
The  ores  in  beauteous  order  lie. 
Embedded  in  their  native  soil 
They  rest ;  until  the  miner's  toil. 


158  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

Their  use,  and  beauty  brings  to  light, 

And  clothes  them  with  a  surface  bright. 

Here  natm-e,  hidden  from  our  eyes. 

In  secret  works  ;  and  bids  arise 

Tliose  various  combinations  strange, 

Which  open  such  extensive  range. 

To  captivate  the  eager  mind, 

And  urge  it  on  new  truths  to  find. 

Oh  !  these  are  themes  that  fill  the  soul ; 

And  rule  it  with  a  sweet  control : 

Which  bear  it  as  on  eagle  wing, 

To  God,  the  fountain,  and  the  spring. 

The  source  of  life,  and  light,  and  laws. 

The  last  great  end  ;  the  first  great  cause.  ' 


WRITTEN  IN  THE  ALBUM  OF  A  YOUNG  FRIEND. 

"Dear  Caroline,  if  poesy  had  pow'r 
To  calm  the  bosom  in  affliction's  hour. 
To  pluck  the  sting  from  disappointment's  dart, 
Or  sooth  the  sorrows  of  the  wounded  heart ;. 
If  it  could  cheer  the  darksome  path  of  life. 
Or  lull  to  rest  its  never-ceasing  strife  ; 
Then,  then  would  I  invoke  the  tuneful  band 
To  pour  into  my  song  their  accents  bland  ; 
To  fill  my  strains  with  their  poetic  fire, 
And  all  my  verse  with  harmony  inspire ; 
That  I  might  breathe  a  lay  to  grace  thy  page, 
A  talisman  thy  sorrows  to  assuage. 
Which  should  its  never-failing  charm  impart. 
To  guard  from  every  ill  thy  youthful  heart. 

"  But  since  it  owns  no  magic  pow'r  like  this, 
Since  it  nor  pain  averts,  nor  lengthens  bliss, 
I'll  cast  til'  unprofitable  Ij're  away. 
And  point  thee  to  that  bright  and  heavenly  ray 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  159 

Which  kindles  in  the  soul  a  Scacred  fire, 
A  holy  flame  which  never  will  expire. 
To  love  divine  which  fills  the  mind  with  joy, 
That  love  which  endless  ages  shall  employ ; 
The  spirits  blest — who  sing  in  strains  untold 
Redeeming  grace  ;  and  strike  their  harps  of  gold, 
Which  clears  the  mists  that  circle  in  our  path. 
Which  calms  the  raging  of  unhallowed  wrath, 
Extracts  tlie  anguish  from  each  earthly  sting, 
And  bids  sweet  peace  from  every  trial  spring. 


ON  READING  SOME  LINES  IN  A  NEWSPAPER,  ON  THE 
DEATH  OF  A  FRIEND. 

"  Oh  !  they  have  left  thy  brightest  fame  untold  ; 
And  hid  from  sight  thy  purest,  finest  gold. 
Thou  didst  delight  to  bear  the  Christian  name, 
And  felt  within  its  spirit's  purest  flame ; 
Which  bade  thee  humbly  bow  before  that  pow'r 
Who  had  preserved  thee  in  each  trying  hour : 
Whose  love  was  shed  abroad  within  thy  heart, 
Directing  thee  to  choose  that  better  part 
Which  neither  life,  nor  death,  nor  eartlily  good 
Can  take  from  those  who  in  a  Saviour's  blood 
Are  wash'd  and  cleans'd  ;  'twas  this,  my  friend. 
This  hope  in  Jesus  which  illum'd  thy  end." 

The  Poem  entitled  "  The  Restoration  of 
Israel,"  is  an  original  work  of  Eight  Books, 
containing  from  five  hundred  to  a  thousand 
lines  in  each  book,  and  in  beautifully  harmoni- 
ous numbers.  It  is  a  work  of  time  and  effort ; 
our  limits  allow  us  to  furnish  only  a  few  brief 
specimens.  The  following  is  from  the  intro- 
duction :  • 


160       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

"  God  spake  the  word — My  outcasts  hither  bring, 
That  they  may  bow  before  their  Saviour  King, 
Break  every  yoke,  and  burst  the  prisoner's  band, 
And  speed  them  onward  to  the  holy  land. 
This  great  command  through  every  nation  flew. 
Kings  of  the  earth  were  moved  by  feelings  new. 
That  race,  so  long  the  victim  of  their  power. 
They  pitying  view,  their  abject  state  deplore, 
Recall  to  mind  what  sorrows  they  had  borne, 
How,  peeled  and  scattered,  from  their  country  torn 
Loaded  with  names  opprobrious  and  vile ; 
Esteemed  unworthy  of  a  Christian  smile. 
That  people,  once  the  well-belov'd  of  God  ! 
Conducted  by  the  pillar  and  the  cloud. 
For  whom  the  skies  poured  down  the  bread  of  heaven. 
To  whom  the  Lively  Oracles  were  given ; 
Who  could  a  Moses  boast,  that  face  to  face. 
Held  sweet  communion  with  the  God  of  grace ;      , 
A  royal  David,  who  with  stroke  profound, 
Wak'd  the  prophetic  harp  to  solemn  sound ; 
A  Solomon,  who,  wisest  of  his  kind, 
Search'd  all  the  deep  recesses  of  the  mind  ; 
That  people  blest,  from  whom  the  Saviour  sprung. 
Whose  wondrous  advent  hosts  angelic  sung ; 
That  people  who,  with  God  himself  their  guide, 
Spread  terror  through  the  earth,  and  kings  defied ; 
Who  numbered  warriors  of  deathless  fame. 
Whose  bold  exploits  the  palm  of  victory  claim  ; 
Where  Maccabseus,  like  a  burning  light. 
Burst  in  full  splendor  on  the  astonished  sight ; 
While  a  long  line  of  worthies  fills  the  page, 
Who  cast  their  lustre  on  our  distant  ao-e." 

After  representing  the  nations  as  obedient 
to  this  command,  and  themselves  counselling 
to  hasten  the  fulfilment  of  this  high  decree, 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.  161 

the   nation  of  Israel  is  presented  to  the  read- 
er's view  in  the  following  paragraph : 

"  But  while  these  thoughts  the  hearts  of  princes  moved, 
The  sons  of  Jacob  other  feehngs  proved  : 
In  secret  mourned  their  long  neglected  state, 
Their  country  and  their  temple  desolate, 
Their  altars  gone,  on  which  no  more  arise. 
The  smoke  of  rams,  or  bulls  in  sacrifice. 
The  Urim,  Thummim,  Ephod,  once  their  boast, 
The  Golden  Censer,  with  its  incense  lost. 
The  line  extinct  which  gave  the  rightful  Priest, 
The  hallow'd  service  of  the  temple  ceased. 
They  thought  upon  Jerusalem  their  joy, 
Her  desolations  every  mind  employ ; 
While  searching  'mid  the  prophecies  to  see, 
How  long  should  last  their  sad  captivity  ; 
How  long  deserted  by  the  God  of  heaven. 
They  should  like  outcasts,  through  the  eai*th  be  driven  ; 
How  long  ere  blest  Jerusalem  should  be, 
Again  inhabited,  her  children  free." 

A  solemn  council  of  the  nation  is  then 
called ;  Ezra  addresses  the  God  of  their  fa- 
thers in  prayer;  a  second  Cyrns  issues  the  edict 
for  their  return ;  the  sixth  vial  is  poured  out 
upon  the  waters  of  the  Euphrates ;  the  scat- 
tered tribes  of  Israel  are  invited  to  assemble 
under  the  Russian  Eagle ;  distinguished  war- 
riors are  described,  and  a  brave  female  ac- 
companies her  lover  to  the  conflict ;  the  army 
is  formed,  and  in  the  commencement  of  the 
second  book,  begin  their  march.  This  book 
describes  the  increase  of  the  army,  and   its 


162       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

progress,  and  brings  it  before  the  city  of  Con- 
stantinople. 

The  third  book  opens  with  the  following 
description  of  this  far-famed  seat,  both  of  Ro- 
man and  Moslem  power. 

"  This  city  rose,  by  art  majestic  graced, 
Like  a  strong  sentinel  by  nature  placed 
To  guard  the  sea,  which  flow'd  on  either  hand, 
And  poured  its  tribute  to  enrich  her  land. 
Fair  in  proportion  were  her  buildings  seen, 
And  regal  splendor  deck'd  this  stately  queen. 
And  often,  as  enamored  of  her  grace, 
She  view'd,  complacent,  her  reflected  face, 
On  the  smooth  mirror  which  before  her  lay, 
And  form'd  a  liquid  passage  to  each  sea. 
Her  sti'eets  were  crowded  with  a  busy  throng, 
Where  oft  were  heard  the  tabret,  pipe,  and  song ; 
Th'  industrious  citizen  his  labor  plied, 
And  each  to  emulate  his  fellow  vied. 
When  Constanline,  the  Great,  design'd  to  show 
What  his  munificence  and  power  could  do. 
He  plann'd  a  city  which  should  bear  his  name. 
To  latest  ages  in  the  rolls  of  fame  ; 
The  place  selected,  where  Byzantium  stood, 
And  reign'd  imperial  mistress  of  the  flood. 
Within  Byzantium's  walls  the  monarch  lay. 
Fatigued  with  all  the  turmoil  of  the  day, 
When  gentle  slumbers  o'er  his  eyelids  crept. 
And  busy  fancy  wakened  as  he  slept. 
Before  him  stood,  in  majesty  and  grace. 
The  tutelary  genius  of  the  place. 
A  venerable  matron's  form  she  wore. 
And  marks  of  age  upon  her  visage  bore. 
And  while  with  wonder  he  the  scene  survey'd. 
The  mati-on  stood  confess'd  a  bloominor  maid. 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  163 

With  his  own  hands,  he  deck'd  the  beauteous  fair, 

With  regal  gems  adorn'd  her  flowing  hair ; 

Upon  her  brow  the  crown  imperial  placed, 

And  with  the  insignia  of  command,  he  placed 

Her  polish 'd  hands.     This  done,  the  monarch  woke, 

But  to  his  mind  the  vision  plainly  spoke, 

And  seem'd  to  say,  Here  shall  the  city  rise, 

Obedient  to  his  will  who  rules  the  skies. 

With  solemn  pomp,  the  monarch  then  precedes 

A  long  procession,  which  he  onwards  leads  ; 

Nor  did  he  cease,  till  he  had  measured  round, 

Ten  ample  miles  to  form  its  utmost  bound. 

The  space  thus  mark'd,  he  drew  with  liberal  hand 

The  great  artificers  of  every  land, 

Till  he,  exulting,  saw  the  fabric  rise 

Magnificent  to  his  enraptur'd  eyes. 

In  form  triangular  its  base  was  laid ; 

Full  on  the  west,  its  greatest  breadth  display'd ; 

Along  its  northern  side,  the  golden  horn 

Of  Cairo  winds,  whose  placid  waves  have  borne 

The  richest  freights  from  Arras'  distant  shore, 

And  all  the  fabrics  which  from  Europe  pour: 

Its  southern  border  wide  Marmora  laves. 

Which  fills  an  ample  basin  with  its  waves : 

Olympus  in  the  west  his  summit  rears. 

And  great  in  towering  majesty  appears. 

But  all  this  glory  soon  must  pass  away. 

And  infidels  usurp  the  Christian's  sway. 

The  crescent  now  above  the  cross  displays. 

Catching  on  silver  horns  his  dazzling  rays. 

Mosques  occupy  the  places  where  once  stood 

Temples  erected  to  the  triune  God." 

Strong  preparations  are  then  made  for  the  de- 
fence of  the  city ;  the  battle  rages;  the  Russian 
army,  and  the  Jewish,  after  several  incidents 


164       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

of  a  personal  character,  are  successful ;  and 
the  third  book  closes  with  the  utter  destruc- 
tion of  the  Mahometan  power.  The  Sultan's 
death,  the  dispersion  of  the  Turks,  the  quiet 
possession  of  the  conquered  city  by  the  con- 
querors, the  burial  of  the  slain,  various  scenes 
of  suffering  depicted,  the  liberation  of  the  in- 
carcerated harem,  an  affecting  narrative  of  a 
Grecian  female  whom  the  Sultan  had  made 
captive  in  war,  the  peaceful  possession  of  the 
city,  and  the  erection  of  the  hero's  tomb  over 
the  ashes  of  one  of  Israel's  leaders,  form  the 
principal  themes  of  the  fourth  book.  The  fifth 
book  opens  with  a  splendid  description  of  the 
interior  of  Constantinople  ;  of  the  mosque  of 
St.  Sophia,  and  Solyman,  and  of  the  sylvan 
suburbs.  Here  the  army  remain  twenty  days, 
during  which  there  are  some  remarkable  con- 
versions from  Judaism  to  Christianity,  and  the 
nuptials  celebrated  between  a  Christian  leader 
and  a  converted  Jewess;  after  which  the 
troops  embark  on  the  sea  of  Marmora,  through 
the  Dardanelles,  visit  the  islands  of  the  Ar- 
chipelago, pass  through  the  groups  of  the 
Ciclades,  and  land  unmolested  at  Joppa,  Here 
they  rest  but  for  a  night,  and  press  on,  through 
Ramah,  to  the  vale  of  Jeremiah,  where,  with 
the  dawning  of  the  morrow's  sun,  they  set 
their  eyes  on  the  holy  city.  The  sixth  book 
opens  with  the  words  : — 


MEMOIR   OF    HANNAH    L.    MURRAY.  165 

"  Bright  dawn'd  the  day ;  a  day  \vith  hope  replete, 
When  Jacob's  sons  should  plant  their  weary  feet 
In  blest  Jerusalem  ;  that  sacred  spot, 
So  long  by  Gentiles  trodden  under  foot." 

The  following  description  of  the   sun's  ris- 
ing, appears  to  us  true  poetry : 

"  In  majesty  unclouded  rose  the  sun, 
With  strength  renewed,  his  golden  race  to  run, 
And  issuing  from  the  portals  of  the  day. 
In  splendor  bright  urged  on  his  glorious  way  ; 
Triumphant  in  his  course  to  glad  the  earth, 
And  call  a  thousand  beauties  into  birth  : 
Causing  the  modest  lily  of  the  vale. 
To  raise  her  drooping  head,  her  sweets  exhale  ; 
Deying  with  deeper  blush  the  fragrant  rose. 
Bidding  the  various  flowers  their  charms  discloses 
And  with  a  skill  to  haughty  man  unknown. 
Select  that  proper  ray  they  call  their  own. 

Thy  light  and  beauty  in  the  diamond  shine  ; 

Glow  in  the  ruby  ;  and  with  tints  divine 

Brighten  the  sapphire,  and  the  topaz  gild  ; 

And  fill  with  lucid  green  the  emerald ; 

Blaze  in  the  carbuncle,  and  spread  abroad 

A  sparkling  lustre  in  their  dark  abode. 

There  thy  deep-searching  beams  those  wonders  cause. 

Those  magical  effects  of  nature's  laws. 

Which  draw  together  by  election  strange. 

Atoms  distinct  that  near  each  other  range, 

And  by  a  mystical  affinity. 

Unite  in  crystals  beauteous  to  the  eye. 

As  the  great  centre,  thou  art  seen  to  stand. 

While  worlds  unnumbered  range  on  every  hand, 

In  sweet  consent  by  thy  attraction  drawn, 

The  force  centripetal  accordant  own : 


166      MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

And  faithful  as  the  needle  to  the  pole, 

In  their  harmonious  circles  round  thee  roll." 

The  scenery  of  Palestine,  the  new  arrange- 
ment of  the  army,  and  their  impassioned  zeal, 
here  occupy  some  pages. 

"The  weary  warriors  from  their  slumbers  woke. 
As  the  loud  bugle  on  the  silence  bi'oke ; 
In  order  ranged,  the  banners  waved  on  high. 
And  Judah's  Lion  rose  to  greet  the  sky. 
They  now  approach'd  Jerusalem  belov'd, 
Where  once  their  temple  stood  by  God  approved : 
That  temple  whither  all  the  tribes  repaired. 
And  where  the  Lord  of  hosts  his  will  declared. 
Where  overshadowing  the  mercy-seat, 
The  golden  pinions  of  tlie  cherubs  meet ; 
Where  the  high  priest  in  holy  garments  dress'd. 
Bore  the  twelve  tribes  upon  his  faitliful  breast. 
Alas  how  changed  !  now  here  profanely  rise 
The  mosque's  proud  minaret  t'  insult  the  skies ; 
The  holy  city  everywhere  defiled 
With  rites  Mahometan  and  worsliip  wild." 

The  army  then  sets  forward ;  not  without 
daily  prayers,  it  passes  over  "  many  a  craggy 
rock"  and  "  narrow  defile,"  and  rests  amid  the 
"  charmed  culture"  of  the  Terebinthine  vale. 

"  Here  they  recalled  to  mind  that  glorious  day. 
When  Israel's  host  was  set  in  proud  array. 
And  the  huge  giant  of  Philistia's  band, 
Was  seen  in  bold  and  haughty  scorn  to  stand, 
Raising  his  impious  voice  in  wrath  on  high, 
The  mighty  God  of  Israel  to  defy. 
When  armed  with  sling  and  stone,  the  youth  appear'd, 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.      167 

While  pious  confidence  his  bosom  cheered ; 
Approach'd  tlie  champion  of  the  uncircumcised, 
His  form  colossal,  but  his  power  despised ; 
And  to  the  earth  his  giant  carcass  bowed 
While  consternation  marked  the  gazing  crowd. 

The  troops  now  no  longer  brook  delay ;  but 
on  nearing  the  city,  they  found  no  preparation 
for  the  battle,  but  entering  it  by  the  northern 
gate,  find  it  abandoned.  Here  they  unite  in  a 
song  of  praise. 

"  0  Lord  of  hosts,  thou  art  our  strenjjth  and  sonsf, 
Might  and  salvation  to  thy  name  belong : 
Thou  art  our  God  ;  ■v\'ith  joy  we  now  will  rear 
An  habitation  for  thy  glory  here. 
Our  fathers'  God,  and  we  will  bless  thy  name, 
Exalt  thee,  and  thy  wondrous  works  proclaim, 
For  Thy  right  hand  hath  gained  the  victory, 
And  dash'd  in  pieces  the  proud  enemy. 
Thy  holy  wrath  descended  ;  lo,  they  lie, 
Consum'd  like  stubble  by  Thy  flaming  eye. 
The  Lord  of  hosts  is  with  us,  shout  abroad, 
Our  refuge  and  our  hope  is  Israel's  God  !" 

The  conquering  army  then  visits  holy  scenes 
and  holy  places,  and  among  the  rest,  Mount 
Moriah,  where  the  offering  up  of  Isaac  is  beau- 
tifully narrated  ;  and  then  they  visit  Gethse- 
mane,  and  Olivet,  and  Calvary. 

"  See  him  descending  from  Mount  Olivet, 
Where  wondering  crowds  strew  branches  at  his  feet : 
E'en  infant  voices  shout  with  one  accord, 
Hosannah  to  the  King,  the  mighty  Lord  ! 


168  MEMOIR   OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

Who  in  Jehovah's  name  now  comes  to  shed 
The  hghts  of  hope  around  the  sinner's  head. 
Now  they  behold  him  strugghng  up  the  steep 
Of  rugged  Calvary  ;  now  behold  him  weep, 
Not  for  himself,  but  for  that  guilty  race 
Who  with  proud  scorn  reject  his  profFer'd  grace. 
Now  the  raised  cross  is  present  to  their  sight, 
Where,  suffering,  hung  the  Son  of  God's  delight : 
Now  strikes  their  ear  that  cry  of  agony, 
My  God  !  my  God  !  hast  thou  forsaken  me  ! 
Roused  by  the  sound,  the  vision  disappears, 
And  hes  concealed  amid  the  shade  of  years." 

After  a  night's  repose  they  go  forth  again,  to 
view  the  city. 

"  Already  had  the  golden  orb  appear'd. 
And  tipp'd  the  mountains,  which  their  summits  rear'd 
Round  blest  Jerusalem  ;  and  seemed  to  throw 
A  solemn  shade  upon  the  scene  below : 
Save  where  the  lofty  dome,  or  slender  spire 
Caught  a  bright  radiance  from  the  globe  of  fire. 
And  peering  o'er  the  gloom  which  wrapp'd  the  ground. 
Like  rich  illuminations  sparkled  round. 
While  Siloa's  fount,  and  Kidron  slept  beneath, 
Their  streams  unruffled  by  a  passing  breath, 
The  convents,  palaces,  and  cloisters  meet 
In  contrast  with  the  mosque  and  minaret : 
And  every  place  proclaimed  the  moslem  power. 
Which,  with  a  rod  of  iron,  till  that  hour 
Had  ruled  the  land  once  favored  of  the  Lord, 
Not  so  intending,  thus  fulfilled  His  word. 
They  felt  as  Nehemiah,  when  he  viewed 
The  gates  consumed  by  fire,  the  walls  subdued 
By  ruthless  hands ;  and  all  a  waste  was  seen, 
Where  erst  their  fathers'  sepulchres  had  been." 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.   MURRAY.  i69 

They  are  now  represented  as  turning  to  the 
predictions  of  their  own  prophets,  and  to  the 
covenant  made  with  David  ;  and  while  mourn- 
ing over  their  desolations,  descry  a  cloud-like 
army  approaching  the  city.  Uncertain  who, 
or  what  they  were,  the  combined  hosts  are 
again  assembled  to  prepare  for  the  conflict. 

"  While  thus  prepared,  the  host  still  onward  drew, 
And  soon  they  open  to  their  nearer  view  : 
For  lo !  are  seen  in  gracefid  waves  to  float. 
Those  well-known  standards  which  the  tribes  denote  ! 
The  crouching  Ass,  the  ravening  Wolf  appear, 
The  wily  Serpent,  Hind  as  fleet  as  air  : 
The  fruitful  Boughs,  o'erspreading  all  the  well. 
The  wondrous  story  to  their  senses  tell ; 
And  bid  them  hail  their  long-lost  brothers  come 
To  join  them  in  their  loved  Jerusalem. 

A  hymn  of  general  praise  then  ascends  to 
God  for  restoring  the  captivity  of  Zion;  the 
tribes  rest ;  on  the  morrow  they  narrate  their 
past  history  ;  and  in  the  midst  of  this  narrative 
the  Moslem  forces,  gathered  in  their  strength, 
"  with  silver  crescent  waving  high,"  prepare 
to  attack  the  city.  They  rush  to  the  battle  ; 
the  slaughter  is  fearful ;  the  Moslem  flies,  and 
God  is  honored.  The  lost  tribes  resume  their 
narrative,  tell  of  others  not  restored,  and  an 
edict  is  issued  to  gather  them  from  the  four 
quarters  of  the  earth.  The  proposition  is  dis- 
cussed by  the  lost  tribes,  and  among  others 


170       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY, 

by  the  savages  of  our  own  wilderness.  Red 
Jacket  is  here  introduced  as  opposed  to  the 
return,  and  delivers  one  of  his  most  bitter  in- 
vectives against  the  Christians.  But  the  mass 
of  the  tribes  regard  the  intimation  as  the  voice 
of  the  Great  Spirit,  and  ''file  off,"  over  "Kam- 
schatka  shores"  to  the  Holy  Land.  Other 
tribes  fall  in  on  the  march. 

"  And  from  remotest  lands  and  western  coasts, 
Are  brought  a  present  to  the  Lord  of  hosts ; 
Where  the  lost  ten,  so  long  concealed  from  sight, 
With  Benjamin  and  Judah  shall  unite." 

The  seventh  book  opens  with  a  series  of 
facts  illustrating  the  thought,  "They  shall 
look  on  him  whom  they  have  pierced  and 
mourn." 

"  While  nature  thus  seemed  dressed  in  smiles  so  gay 
The  sons  of  Jacob  woke  to  fast  and  pray, 
Near  where  the  temple  once  in  grandeur  stood 
Assembled  now  this  wonder-stricken  crowd. 
To  ask  direction  of  the  God  of  heaven, 
Confess  their  sins,  and  plead  to  be  forgiven." 

On  this  spot  they  renew  their  covenant  with 
God,  and  engage  to  rebuild  the  temple,  and 
begin  and  complete  the  work  according  to  the 
description  of  it  given  by  the  prophet  Ezekiel. 
The  enraged  Moslem  makes  another  attack 
and  is  repulsed. 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  171 

"  Behold  I  am  against  thee,  0  most  proud ! 
Thy  day  is  come  ;  death  shall  thy  glory  shroud ; 
For  strong  is  Israel's  Saviour,  and  he  comes  ; 
The  Lord  of  hosts  his  righteous  cause  assumes ; 
This  is  the  work  of  an  almighty  hand. 
That  Israel  maj^  in  peace  possess  the  land." 

An  earthquake  tlien  swallows  up  the  re- 
treating Mahometan  army,  and  a  song  of  tri- 
umph is  sung  to  Jehovah's  praise.  The  eighth 
hook  opens  with  a  description  of  the  temple, 
with  all  its  pristine  glory  restored,  save  the 
rod  of  Aaron,  the  pot  of  manna,  the  Urim  and 
Thummim,  the  golden  censer,  and  the  She- 
chinah.  It  is  then  dedicated  with  all  befitting 
rites,  and  prayer;  the  people  bowed  their 
heads,  offered  their  wonted  sacrifices,  and 
looked  to  see  "  the  glory  of  the  Lord  fill  the 
house."  But  no  bright  Shechinah  appeared  ; 
they  looked  toward  the  mercy-seat,  but  no 
answer  is  given,  and  the  people  cry  "  Is  his 
mercy  clean  gone  forever  ?" 

Shall  the  proud  infidel  exulting  say, 

Where  is  their  God  ?  their  boasted  hope  and  stay." 

They  mourn,  and  listen,  without  resentment, 
to  the  guilt  of  their  fathers,  as  set  forth  by  a 
Christian  female,  and  to  solemn  protestations 
against  the  obduracy  of  their  own  unbelief. 
Her  eloquent  appeal  closes  thus  : — 

"  Behold  the  golden  sceptre  is  set  forth, 
The  token  of  God's  love  to  sons  of  earth, 


172  MEMOIR  OF    HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

0  come  and  touch  it,  lie  exclaims  and  live. 

And  far  exceeding  your  requests  receive ; 

Beauty  for  ashes  shall  my  grace  appoint, 

The  oil  of  joy  for  mourning  freely  grant. 

For  lo,  he  says,  yet  will  I  once  again, 

Shake  heaven  and  earth,  the  mighty  roaring  main. 

And  every  nation  to  its  centre  move, 

To  manifest  my  faithfulness  and  love. 

For  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts, — I  will  now  fill 

This  place  with  glory,  and  myself  reveal ; 

For  lo,  tliis  latter  house  shall  be  arrayed 

With  greater  glory  than  the  first  displayed; 

Here  my  good  Spirit  shall  descend  to  bless 

The  waiting  multitudes  with  heavenly  peace  ; 

Here  shall  a  nobler  sacrifice  be  made, 

Than  smoking  bullocks  on  the  altar  laid  ; 

The  offering  of  hearts,  now  broke  for  sin. 

And  in  the  Saviour's  precious  blood  made  clean." 

They  search  the  scriptures,  and  the  veil  is 
taken  off  their  hearts  as  they  search  them. 
Ben-Joseph  wavered,  and  the  tribes  are  per- 
plexed; and  in  the  midst  of  this  perplexity 
other  Jews  from  other  and  far  distant  lands 
arrive.  Christian  Israelites  from  afar  bear 
testimony  to  the  fulfilment  of  the  Jewish 
Scriptures  in  the  person  of  Jesus.  America 
and  Britain  lend  their  aid,  and  Poland  too, 
and  from  all  lands  they  fly  as  clouds  and  as 
doves  to  their  windows. 

"  The  morning  came,  when  they  with  one  accord 
Assembled  in  the  temple  of  the  Lord, 
Exhibiting  a  splendid  pageantr_y, 
Of  various  hues  and  dazzling  brilliancy." 


MEMOIR   OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  173 

Here  Josedec,  a  converted  priest,  addresses 
them,  preaching  the  glorious  Gospel  of  the 
ever  blessed  God. 

•'  0  never  hope  the  blood  of  bullocks  slain. 
Can  from  your  consciences  wash  out  the  stain  ; 
For  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  alone  can  give, 
Rest  to  your  burdened  souls,  and  bid  them  live. 
Lift  up  your  eyes  to  Calvary  and  see. 
That  spotless  victim  on  the  accursed  tree. 
For  him  hath  God  exalted  to  his  throne, 
By  him  he  sends  the  promised  blessing  down. 
At  his  high  word  the  Holy  Spirit  comes. 
And  all  the  darkness  of  the  soul  illumes." 

Judah  and  Israel  wept.  There  was  deep  grief 
throughout  all  the  assembled  tribes.  Light 
filled  the  temple ;  all  bowed  their  heads  and 
worshipped. 

"  Then  did  the  holy  place  with  joy  resound, 
Then  Hallelujahs  on  each  tongue  were  found. 
Then  in  one  song  of  grateful  praise  they  join, 
And  raise  their  voices  in  a  strain  divine. 
Break  forth  ye  mountains,  into  hymns  of  praise, 
Ye  lofty  cedars,  high  your  branches  raise, 
0  leap  for  joy,  ye  little  hills  around, 
And  send  with  echoes  back  the  gladsome  sound. 
Salvation  with  its  blessings  has  appeared, 
And  Judah's  sons,  and  Israel's  thousands  cheered. 
Come,  faithful  souls,  who  lov^e  the  Lord,  and  hear. 
While  we  the  wonders  of  his  grace  declare ; 
Astonished  while  you  see  before  your  eyes, 
These  dry  dead  bones  a  living  army  rise. 
Praise  ye  the  Lord,  uplift  a  holy  song. 


174  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

Bid  all  his  saints  the  wondrous  theme  prolong, 

With  timbrel  and  the  harp  loud  praises  sing, 

With  the  high  sounding  cymbals  praise  the  King, 

0  praise  him  for  his  glory  known  above, 

0  praise  him  for  tlie  wonders  of  his  love. 

Young  men  and  maidens  praise  his  glorious  name, 

Kings  of  the  earth,  to  him  ascribe  your  fame ; 

Old  men  and  children,  raise  your  feeble  voice 

To  praise  the  God  whom  you  have  made  your  choice. 

And  men  of  might,  who  live  upon  his  word. 

And  every  thing  that  breaths,  0  praise  the  Lord  !" 

The  reader  will  not  be  dissatisfied  with  this 
brief  analysis  of  this  beautiful  poem.  It  fur- 
nishes a  happy  illustration  of  the  taste,  piety 
and  enthusiasm  of  its  amiable  and  indefatigable 
authoress.  We  have  occupied  no  small  time 
in  condensing  it,  and  have  been  perpetually 
struggling  with  our  own  feelings  in  order  to 
bring  it  even  within  the  compass  we  have  oc- 
cupied. 

Her  translations  from  Anacreon,  contain  his 
short  piece,  called  "  The  Lyre  ;  "  his  ode  "  To 
the  Pigeon ;"  his  ode  "  To  Himself;"  one 
"  To  Cupid,"  and  one  "  To  the  Cricket."  I 
will  merely  transcribe  the  ode  to  the  Cricket, 
the  ode  to  the  Pigeon,  and  the  one  to  Cupid  : 

TO  THE  CRICKET. 

"  Hail  happy  Cricket,  chirping  thing, 

We  greet  thee  with  a  fond  deHght, 
Enthron'd  we  see  thee  like  a  king, 

Upon  the  branch's  top-most  height." 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  175 

"  There  having  sipp'd  the  nectar'd  dew, 
With  Ufe,  and  health,  and  vigor  fraught, 
To  hail  the  rising  sun  anew, 

Thou  pourest  forth  thy  cheerful  note. 

"  All  things  are  thine,  what  ere  thine  eye 
SuiTeys  amid  the  verdant  fields, 
What  e'er  the  forests  can  supply, 
Or  every  changing  season  yields. 

"  By  rural  swains  thou  art  beloved. 
Who  gladly  hear  thy  music  sweet. 
By  mortals  honored  and  approved, 
As  harbinger  of  summer's  heat. 

"  The  muses  too  delight  in  thee. 

And  Phoebus'  self  his  favor  shows. 
For  he  has  filled  with  melody 

Thy  little  voice  which  cheerful  flows. 

"  Ne'er  burden'd  with  the  weight  of  age, 
Delighting  in  the  tuneful  song  ; 
Son  of  the  earth,  yet  ever  sage. 
To  thee  properties  belong. 

"  Which  designate  the  gods  divine, 

For  passion  ne'er  disturbs  thy  race  ; 
And/  in  those  little  veins  of  thine 
No  purple  drops  are  seen  to  chase. 

"  Warm,  basking  in  the  sunny  ray, 
No  sad  forebodings  mar  thy  joy  ; 
But  pure  and  happy  is  thy  day, 

While  cheerful  notes  thy  hours  employ. 


ODE  XV— TO  THE  PIGEON. 

"  Soft  and  lovely  Pigeon  say 
Whither  dost  thou  wing  thy  way  ? 


17C  ME3I0IR   OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

Whence  collect  those  odors  sweet 
Which  my  raptured  senses  greet, 
And  as  thou  movest  thro'  the  sky 
In  rich  profusion  round  thee  fly, 
With  whose  errand  art  thou  blest. 
And  to  whom  is  thy  behest  ? 

To  Bathyllus,  the  youth  belov'd. 
Sovereign  of  all  hearts  approved  ; 
By  Anacreon  I  was  sent. 
And  cheerful  on  my  message  went ; 
A  present  I  from  Venus  came 
To  the  Bard  of  matchless  fame ; 
For  an  ode  of  strains  divine, 
Sweet  chanted  at  the  Paphian  shrine ; 
For  Anacreon  oft  I  move. 
And  execute  for  him  I  love 
Impoi'tant  messages  like  these, 
That  my  master  I  may  please ; 
Behold  !  e'en  now  with  tender  care. 
His  amorous  billedoux  I  bear. 
Oft  has  he  thought  to  set  me  free 
And  bid  me  fly  at  liberty  : 
But  I  still  ready  on  the  wing, 
A  willino-  service  ever  brinjr : 
F'or  why  should  I  with  weary  flight 
Rove  over  fields  and  mountain's  height ; 
Or,  perch'd  on  trees  that  wave  in  air, 
Seek  for  a  scanty  pittance  there, 
While  daily  from  his  hand  I  feed 
Upon  a  dainty  meal  indeed  ; 
And  from  the  golden  goblet  sip. 
Ere  it  has  touched  his  thirsty  lip, 
That  luscious  draught  of  rosy  wine, 
Which  mortals  love,  and  gods  divine  ? 
Then  satisfied  I  flit  around. 
But  soon  am  near  my  master  found. 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  177 

And,  with  my  downy  pinions  spread, 
I  shade  him  while  he  rests  his  head ; 
And  as  he  leans  upon  his  lyre, 
I  sleep — and  music's  tones  respire. 

Now  thou  hast  all,  he  parting  said  ; 
Then  soaring  high  above  my  head 
More  chattering  or  than  man  or  pye 
He  cut  his  passage  thro'  the  sky. 


ODE  XHI— TO   HIMSELF. 

"  Once  did  my  foolish  heart  desire  to  know 
Those  extacies  that  Cupid  can  bestow ; 
And  he  with  all  his  blandishments  and  skill 
Endeavor'd  to  persuade  me  to  his  will ; 
But,  of  a  wayward  mind  in  evil  hour, 
I  scorned  his  efforts,  and  defied  his  power. 
He  in  a  moment  raised  his  bow  with  art, 
And  from  the  golden  quiver  drew  a  dart ; 
Then  for  the  combat,  with  a  taunting  air, 
The  wary  urchin  bade  me  quick  prepare, 
I,  like  Achilles,  on  my  shoulder  placed 
The  brazen  thorax  to  protect  my  breast, 
And,  with  my  shield  and  glittering  spear  array 'd, 
With  confidence  his  summons  I  obey'd. 
He  twang'd  his  bow — the  ready  arrow  sped. 
And  I  with  trembling  from  the  contest  fled ; 
But  he  pursued — his  arrows  soon  were  spent, 
And  in  a  rage — upon  his  conquest  bent — 
Transformed  himself  into  a  barbed  dart. 
And  swift  as  lightning  shot  into  my  heart ! 

Ah  !  now  of  what  avail  the  shield  and  spear 
Or  outward  blows  ! — but  beating  of  the  air  ? 
Since  all  the  fury  of  the  battle's  strife 
Rages  within  and  threats  my  very  life." 
8* 


178  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

ODE  XXXni— TO  CUPID. 

"  At  noon  of  night,  when  silent  move, 

The  bright  and  starry  bands, 
And  Ursa  Major  turns  to  prove 

Bootes,  guiding  hands ; 
When  man,  from  toil  and  work  released, 

In  gentle  sleep  reposed, 
And  earthly  cares  their  pressure  ceased, 

And  weary  eyes  are  closed, 
Cupid  without  with  thundering  sound 

Against  my  portals  beat ; 
I  started — wildly  gazed  around  ; 

And  leaped  upon  my  feet. 
Who  's  there  !  I  cried  ;  that  thus  invades 

The  slumbers  of  my  bed  ? 
I  am  a  little  child,  he  pleads. 

Receive  me  to  thy  shed  ; 
Dispel  thy  fears,  the  door  unbar. 

For  I  am  cold  and  wet. 
Have  lost  my  way,  and  wandered  far 

This  dark  and  moonless  night. 
Pitying,  his  mournful  tale  I  heard. 

And  instant  struck  a  light, 
I  opened — when  a  child  appear'd 

With  features  rosy  bright ; 
A  pair  of  wings  the  urchin  wore 

As  soft  as  cygnet's  down; 
A  quiver  o'er  his  shoulders  bore. 

And  bow  which  polished  shone. 
When  seated  near  the  cheerful  fire, 

I  rubbed  his  little  hands  ; 
I  wrung  the  water  from  his  hair 

And  loosed  his  dripping  bands. 
Now  warmed,  he  said.  Come,  bring  my  bow. 

And  let  us  try  its  power ; 


MEMOIR  OP   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  179 

How  far  'tis  injured,  I  would  know, 

From  drenching  of  the  shower. 
He  twang'd  the  string,  the  arrow  flew. 

And  pierc'd  me  thro'  the  heart, 
When,  springing,  with  dehght  he  threw 

These  taunts  to  increase  the  smart. 
Congratulate  me,  oh  my  host. 

My  bow  is  safe  and  sound ; 
But  thou  wilt  find  thy  comfort  lost, 

And  own  a  heartfelt  wound." 

We  have  doubted  much,  if  we  should  give 
the  entire  translation  of  the  "  Request  of 
Phaeton,"  translated  from  the  Latin  of  Ovid. 
It  cannot  be  given  to  advantage,  in  detached 
parts.  It  is  a  highly-finished  translation,  and 
reminds  me  of  some  of  the  translations  of  Mil- 
ton. But  it  is  too  long  for  this  volume,  com- 
prising more  than  five  hundred  lines. 


CHAPTER   X. 


HER    CORRESPONDENCE. 


Miss  Murray  rarely  copied  her  letters.  She 
wrote  largely  to  her  friends  and  others,  though 
there  are  but  few  rough  sketches  of  these  com- 
munications to  he  found  among  her  papers. 
Some  of  these,  it  is  permitted  us  to  transcribe 
as  specimens  of  her  epistolary  manner,  and  of 
the  zeal  she  felt  in  her  Master's  cause.  She 
did  not  avoid  direct  personal  interviews  with 
those  she  loved,  but  often  conversed  w  ith  them 
on  religious  subjects,  with  great  sweetness, 
feeling  and  effect.  She  never  scrupled  to  de- 
clare her  sentiments  openly,  w  ith  great  firm- 
ness and  decision,  as  well  as  gentleness  and 
humility.  Yet  she  was,  to  an  unusual  degree, 
dijffident.  She  had  ardent  de,sires  to  bring 
others  into  the  fold  of  Christ,  and  often  felt  it 
to  be  her  duty  to  address  them  in  the  language 
of  exhortation,  persuasion,  and  entreaty;  and 
when  she  felt  that  she  could  not  so  well  reach 
them  by  conversation,  she  had  recourse  to  her 
pen.  The  following  letter  is  addressed  to  one 
of  her  dear  young  friends,  w^ell  known  to  the 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.  181 

author,  and  who  was  for  many  years  one  of 
his  beloved  flock. 

"  My  dear , 


"  Our  conversation  on  Sunday  evening  has 
made  a  deep  impression  on  my  mind ;  I  have 
revolved  it  in  my  thoughts  many  times,  and  it 
appears  right  to  me  to  give  you  the  result  of 
my  reflections. 

"  You  say  you  do  not  know  whether  you 
ought  to  continue  to  partake  of  the  Sacrament 
or  not ;  and  that  sometimes  you  think  you  will 

not  go  to  the  table.     Consider,  my  dear , 

what  this  language  would  speak.  It  would 
be  an  open  avowal  oh  your  part,  that  you  no 
longer  desire  to  be  a  disciple  of  Jesus.  Would 
it  not  be  a  positive  rejection  of  those  blessings 
purchased  by  the  atoning  blood  of  the  Lamb 
of  God  ?  Ought  you  not  to  be  afraid,  lest  by 
such  a  deliberate  and  voluntary  act,  you  would 
seal  your  condemnation,  put  far  from  you  the 
blood  of  sprinkling,  and  judge  yourself  un- 
worthy to  receive  eternal  life  ?  Should  not 
your  doubts  and  your  consciousness  of  sin 
rather  urge  you  now,  while  it  is  an  accepted 
time  and  a  day  of  salvation,  diligently  to  look 
into  your  own  heart,  and  with  strong  suppli- 
cation and  prayer,  beseech  the  Lord  of  life  to 
send  his  Holy  Spirit  into  your  soul,  to  cleanse 
it  from  all  its  pollution,  and  make  it  a  temple 


182       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

wherein  he  may  delight  to  dwell  ?     Go  to  him, 

dear  ,  that  he  may  give  you  that  faith 

which  worketh  by  love  and  overcometh  the 
world ;  that  he  may  give  you  a  true  and  feel- 
ine:  sense  of  the  evil  that  is  in  you,  and  that 
repentance  which  is  unto  life;  that  he  may 
enable  you  to  see  the  preciousness  of  Christ 
as  an  all-sufficient  Saviour,  and  your  own  ab- 
solute and  perishing  need  of  his  great  salvation. 
"  But  while  I  say  this,  allow  me  also  to  say, 
God  cannot  be  deceived,  and  he  will  not  be 
mocked.  Deal  honestly  with  God.  His  de- 
mand is,  Give  me  thy  heart.  Unless  you  can 
resolve  in  his  strength  to  yield  that  to  him, 
you  cannot  expect  his  blessing  and  love.     O 

learn,  then,  my  beloved ,  as  a  prisoner  of 

hope,  to  flee  to  Jesus  the  strong  hold.  Turn, 
O  turn  ;  for  why  wilt  thou  die  1  If  any  man 
draw  back,  my  soul  shall  have  no  pleasure  in 
him.  Will  you  draw  back  ?  May  he  who  is 
infinite  in  mercy,  and  whose  compassions  fail 
not,  draw^  thee  with  the  cords  of  his  love ;  cause 
Christ  to  be  revealed  in  thee  the  hope  of  glory, 
and  prepare  thee  for  the  enjoyment  of  his  glo- 
rious presence  in  his  kingdom.  This  is  the 
fervent  prayer  of  your  affectionate  friend, 

"  H.  L.  Murray." 

There  is  good  reason  to  believe   that   the 
following  thoughts  accompanied  the  letter. 


MEMOIR   OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  183 

"  The  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper, 
which  has  been  handed  down  to  the  church 
from  generation  to  generation,  was  instituted 
by  the  Lord  Jesus  himself,  shortly  before  he 
was  betrayed.  Having  supped  with  his  dis- 
ciples he  took  the  bread  and  brake  it,  saying, 
This  is  my  body  which  was  broken  for  you  ; 
thus  showing  the  reason  why  his  body  was 
broken  on  the  cross.  He  then  took  the  cup, 
after  he  had  given  thanks,  and  gave  it  to  his 
disciples,  saying.  Drink  ye  all  of  it ;  this  is 
the  New  Testament  in  my  blood,  shed  for 
many,  for  the  remission  of  sins ;  thus  signify- 
ing the  efficacy  of  his  blood  to  take  away  sin, 
when  applied  by  faith  to  the  soul.  And  then 
he  added.  Do  this  in  remembrance  of  me;  for 
as  oft  as  ye  eat  this  bread  and  drink  this  cup, 
ye  do  show  the  Lord's  death  till  he  come  ; 
thus  quaking  it  a  standing  memorial  of  his 
death  to  successive  generations.  He  gave 
these  elements  or  symbols  of  his  body  and 
blood  to  his  disciples :  to  those  who  professed 
to  love  him ;  who  were  desirous  of  obeying 
all  his  commands ;  who  had  openly  professed 
their  faith  in  him  as  the  Son  of  God  and  the 
Saviour  of  the  world,  and  who  had  devoted 
their  lives  and  substance  to  his  service.  Those 
therefore  who  can  from  the  heart  call  him 
Lord  and  Master,  and  those  only  ;  those  who 
are  willing  to  leave  all  things,  should  he  re- 


184  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

quire  it,  and  follow  him  ;  who  look  to  him  as 

their   righteousness    and    strength,  and    their 

Saviour  from  sin  and  death  ;  who  mourn  over 

their  own  unrighteousness  and  ill-desert,  and 

yet  rejoice  that  they  can  plead  his  merits  and 

perfect  righteousness ;  have  a  right  to  partake 

of  this  sweet,  yet  solemn  ordinance.     It  is  for 

God's  children  that  this  table  is  spread,  that, 

by  worthily  receiving,  their  faith  and  graces 

may  be  invigorated,  and  their  hopes  confirmed. 

Those  who  partake  of  this  ordinance   should 

maintain   a  holy  jealousy  of  themselves,  and 

be  solicitous  of  walking  circumspectly  before 

the  world,  that  they  dishonor  not  their  Lord 

and    Master,   nor  wound  the    Saviour  in  the 

house  of  his  friends.     Those  who  are  desirous 

of  uniting  themselves  to  God's  family  on  the 

earth  by  an  approach  to  this  table,  should  pray 

for   a    spirit    of   grace    and    self-examination, 

that  they  may  discern  the  Lord's  body,  and 

worthily  eat  of  that  bread  and  drink  of  that 

cup." 

« 

The  following  letter  is  addressed  to  J.  B., 
and  is  under  the  date  of  January  1st. 

"  The  beginning  of  a  new  year,  my  dear  J., 
though  generally  esteemed  a  season  of  rejoic- 
ing, ought  to  be  a  time  of  deep  and  serious 
reflection  to  every  immortal  mind.     It  should 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.   MURRAY.  185 

make  every  one  pause,  and  think  of  the  days 
that  are  gone  with  those  beyond  the  flood. 
It  should  call  to  mind  every  opportunity  he 
has  had  of  doing  good  in  the  world,  and  lead 
him  to  inquire,  whether  he  has  improved  it  to 
the  glory  of  God  and  the  comfort  and  benefit 
of  his  fellow-creatures  :  or  Avhether,  by  abuse 
and  neglect,  these  opportunities  will,  in  the 
great  day  of  account,  rise  up  in  judgment 
against  him.  He  should  endeavor  to  recall  to 
his  remembrance  all  the  admonitions  that  have 
been  proffered  to  him  by  tenderness  and  affec- 
tion, and  inquire  whether  he  has  sincerely 
laid  them  to  heart,  or  whether  they  have  been 
as  an  idle  tale.  The  solemn  consideration 
that  one  year  has  elapsed  of  that  portion  of 
time  which  the  Creator  of  all  has  allotted  to 
his  creatures,  should  cause  him  to  consider 
whether  he  has  obtained  an  interest  in  that 
atoning  blood  which  cleanseth  from  all  sin. 
Wondrous  is  that  truth,  that  there  is  One  who 
has  opened  the  way  for  sinners  to  return  to 
their  offended  God ;  has  turned  away  the 
flaming  sword ;  who  holds  out  the  golden 
sceptre  of  his  love,  and  invites  them  to  touch 
it  and  live.  How  is  this  creature  of  God, 
spared  another  year,  affected  by  this  truth  ? 
Has  he  made  his  peace  with  God,  and  is  he  a 
welcome  guest  at  the  marriage  supper  of  the 
Lamb  ?     Well,  too,  may  he  ask  himself,  if  he 


186       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

has  been  diligent  and  faithful  in  the  discharge 
of  those  duties  that  God  has  imposed  upon 
him  ;  if  he  has  labored  with  fidelity  to  accom- 
plish the  work  which  his  Heavenly  Father 
has  allotted  him,  that  he  may  at  last  be 
greeted  Avith  the  soul-cheering  salutation, 
"  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant,  enter 
thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord  !" 

"  These  are  subjects  of  reflection  which 
should  frequently  occupy  the  mind,  and  deeply 
engage  the  heart.  I  know  the  youthful  mind 
does  not  readily  lend  iiself  to  such  deep  and 
important  concerns  ;  when  conscience  is  troub- 
lesome, it  is  put  off  with  the  answer  of  Felix, 
*  Go  thy  way  for  this  time;  when  I  have  a 
convenient  season,  I  will  call  for  thee.'  But 
what  says  the  voice  of  God  ?  Seek  me  early, 
and  ye  shall  find  me.  And  what  more  can 
the  soul  desire,  than  to  find  Him  who  is  the 
perfection  of  beauty,  who  is  glorious  in  holi- 
ness, and  perfect  in  wisdom  and  truth  ? 

"  And  now,  my  dear  J.,  I  would  plead  with 
you,  as  a  mother  with  her  son,  that  you  would 
seek  first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his  righte- 
ousness, remembering  the  promise  that  all 
other  needful  things  shall  be  added  unto  you. 
Put  not  off  to  what  you  may  deem  a  more  con- 
venient season,  a  dedication  of  yourself  to  God 
who  made  you,  who  has  preserved  and  re- 
deemed you.     He  is  now  highly  exalted  as  a 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  187 

Prince  and  Saviour  to  give  repentance  and 
remission  of  sins ;  and  he  has  pledged  him- 
self, that  whosoever  cometh  to  him  he  v\dll  in 
no  w^ise  cast  out,  but  give  him  eternal  life. 
Now,  then,  while  it  is  called  to-day,  harden 
not  your  heart.  Now^  is  the  accepted  time ; 
now^  is  the  day  of  salvation.  Could  my  prayers 
for  you  avail,  you  would  turn  with  full  purpose 
of  heart  unto  the  Lord,  and  walk  worthy  of 
the  Christian  name.  You  w^ould  glorify  God 
in  your  body  and  your  spirit,  wdiich  are  His ; 
that  wdien  He  shall  call  you  to  quit  this  earthly 
scene,  you  may  have  an  entrance  ministered 
to  you  abundantly  into  His  everlasting  king- 
dom. 

"  That  this  commencement  of  a  new  year 
may  be  the  beginning  of  good  things  to  your 
soul ;  that  you  may  grow  in  grace  and  in  the 
knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ ;  that  you  may  bring  forth  the  fruits  of 
righteousness  in  your  life,  and  experience  that 
peace  of  God  which  passeth  all  understanding, 
is  the  fervent  prayer  of 

"  Your  true  friend, 

"  H.  L.  Murray." 

The  following  is  a  letter  addressed  to  Lind- 
ley  Murray,  of  York,  in  England,  on  the  death 
of  his  only  brother,  John  Murray,  jun.,  who 
departed  this  life  in  the  city  of  New  York,  on 


188  MEMOIR    OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY, 

the  3rd  day  of  August,  1819.  The  character 
of  this  venerable  man  is  well  known  among 
us  for  his  urbanity  and  kindness,  and  his  firm 
adherence  to  the  evangelical  portion  of  the 
Society  of  Friends. 

"  I  know  that  my  dear  cousin  does  not  need 
my  sympathy.  Yet  ever  since  the  great  loss  we 
have  sustained  in  the  death  of  our  beloved  cous- 
in John  Murray,  I  have  felt  a  strong  desire  to 
communicate  with  you,  and  in  some  degree  to 
express  the  feelings  I  entertained  for  him,  and 
my  sense  of  the  great  privation  which  this  mel- 
ancholy event  must  occasion  you.  It  has  ap- 
peared to  me  that  this  bereaving  dispensation 
would  be  one  which  would  bear  heavily  upon 
you ;  more  especially  as  he  had  been  the 
main  channel  of  communication  from  this 
country  of  all  that  could  please  and  interest 
you.  But  it  is  a  comfortable  and  supporting 
thought,  that  when  our  heavenly  Father  sees 
meet  to  dry  up  the  streams  of  creature  com- 
fort and  happiness,  he  opens  to  us  the  full 
Fountain,  and  invites  us  to  draw  therefrom  and 
be  satisfied.  He  is  better  to  us  that  sons  and 
daughters,  and  than  any  or  all  of  those  tender 
relatives  who  entwine  themselves  around  our 
hearts,  and  add  so  much  to  our  enjoyment. 
We  should  indeed  be  thankful  for  them  while 
he  lends  them  to  us;  but  when  he  pleases  to 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH    L.  MURRAY.  189 

recall  them — we  should  be  still  and  know  that 
it  is  the  Lord. 

"  The  grief  we  indulge  is  undoubtedly  sel- 
fish, as  it  is  for  ourselves  alone  :  for  when   we 
calmly  contemplate  the  change  our  departed 
friend    has    made,  from   a    world    of  sin  to  a 
habitation   of  holiness ;  from  a  scene   of  suf- 
fering  and  trial,    to    a  state   of  never-ending 
enjoyment  in  the  presence   of  God,  we  must 
rejoice.     And   we    shall    continue    to    rejoice 
until  the  feelings  of  the  flesh  draw  us  back 
again  to  a  sense  of  our  loss.     Even  then,  how 
consoling  to  reflect   that   he    was  among   the 
number   of  those    faithful   servants    who    hid 
not  their  Lord's  talent,  but  by  diligence  and 
w  atchfulness,  gained   other   talents ;  who   felt 
the    necessity  of  working  while  it  was  day, 
and  with  carefulness  sought  to  make  his  call- 
ing  and  election  sure.     His  self-denying  life  ; 
his  meek  and  humble  worth ;  his  genuine  be- 
nevolence preached  loudly  to  those  around  him, 
and  his  name  now   remains  as  a  sweet  savor 
to  all  who  knew  him.     To  us,  he  ever  proved 
himself  a  tender  and  affectionate  relative  in 
all  the  trials   to  which  we  have  been  called, 
and  his  memory  will  ever  be   dear  to  us.     To 
our  great  satisfaction,  we  were   enabled  to  be 
much   w  ith   him  in   his  last  illness ;  and  the 
sweetness  and  patience  with  which  he  bore 
exceeding-  suffering  will  never  be  forgotten. 


190  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

Indeed,  it  seems  as  if  patience  had  her  perfect 
work  in  him. 

"  Our  cousin  Catharine  seems  greatly  affect- 
ed, and  seems  daily  more  and  more  to  feel 
what  a  rich  treasure  she  has  lost ;  while  the 
helpless  situation  of  my  dear  Mary  Perkins 
renders  the  trial  still  more  severe.  But  O, 
my  dear  cousin,  what  a  precious  promise  that 
is,  where  God  says,  '  I  will  be  a  Father  to  the 
fatherless,  and  let  thy  widows  trust  in  me !' 
And  how  faithfully  has  it  been  fulfilled  to  us  ! 
How  has  the  Lord  led  us  step  by  step,  pro- 
vided for  all  our  wants,  opened  our  eyes  in  a 
measure  to  see  the  vanity  of  all  things  short 
of  himself  as  our  portion,  and  bid  us  look  to 
him  as  our  shield  and  exceeding  great  reward ! 
O  that  it  may  be  our  constant  desire  and  aim 
to  follow  on  to  know  the  Lord  !  May  we 
know  more  and  more  of  his  good  pleasure,  and 
from  the  heart  endeavor  to  do  his  will  on 
earth,  as  it  is  done  in  heaven ;  that  when 
called  to  lay  down  these  tabernacles  of  clay, 
we  may  know  that  we  have  a  building  of  God, 
a  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens ! 

"  With  love  to  J.  C,  I  remain, 

"  Your  affectionate  Cousin, 

"H.  L.  Murray." 

The  following  letters  from  two  of  her  val- 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.  191 

lied  correspondents  will  not  be  unacceptable 
to  those  who  remember  her  interest  in  the 
cause  of  missions : 

"  Egina,  2^tk  May,  1829. 

"  To  Miss  H.  L.  Murray. 

"  My  Dear  Friend — Your  interesting  letter 
of  December  18th,  I  received  only  a  few  days 
since,  (the  18tli  inst.,)  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ander- 
son, who  was  sent  out,  as  you  doubtless 
know,  by  the  American  Board,  to  visit  the 
shores  of  the  Mediterranean.  Mr.  Robertson, 
by  whom  you  sent  your  letter,  arrived  here 
last  Friday,  and  left  the  next  day  for  Lyra,  to 
which  place  he  Jiad  sent  his  baggage  from  the 
Ionian  Isles.  The  arrival  of  so  many  friends, 
bringing  letters  with  them  from  happy  Amer- 
ica, could  not  but  fill  my  heart  with  much  joy. 
Those  letters  I  had  in  vain  looked  for,  for 
many  long  months.  Never  suppose,  for  a  mo- 
ment, that  a  letter  from  any  friend  in  New  York 
can  be  "unacceptable;"  and  much  more  a 
letter  from  that  little  circle  of  ladies,  by  whom 
I  have  the  honor  to  be  employed. 

"  I  am  glad  that  your  interest  in  Greece  is  not 
abated.  It  is,  in  some  respects,  the  most  in- 
teresting field  on  earth.  The  loud  call  for  in- 
struction, from  every  part  of  the  country,  ap- 
pears to  me  to  be  something  very  singular 
and  truly,  wonderful.      Now  is  the  time  for 


192  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

laying  foundations,  on  which  beautiful  super- 
structures may  hereafter  arise,  and  lift  their 
heads  towards  heaven.  I  cannot  but  hope, 
that  God  desig-ns  to  make  Greece  the  means 
of  incalculable  good  to  the  whole  Eastern 
■world.  Long  and  dark  ages  of  ignorance  and 
tyranny  have  rolled  over  her;  but  I  fancy  that 
I  see  a  gleam  of  light,  which  I  take  to  be  'the 
dayspring  from  on  high,'  beginning  to  '  visit' 
her.  She  is  beginning  to  arise  and  shake  her- 
self from  the  dust — beautiful  garments  to  put 
on,  she  has  not.  Those  must  be,  in  part,  pre- 
pared by  the  fair  hands  of  America  and  Eu- 
rope. Garments  for  the  body,  you  have  al- 
ready prepared  in  great  numbers,  and  sent  in 
mercy  to  her.  But  now  the  mind — the  mind 
must  be  adorned.  You  have  prepared  a  beau- 
tiful '  toilette'  for  the  American  ladies,  and  I 
doubt  not  that  you  wall  feel  an  interest  in 
preparing  one  for  Greece.  (By  the  w-ay,  I 
have  lately  forwarded,  by  the  Marquis  de  Val- 
mey,  a  copy  of  '  The  American  Toilet,'  to  the 
Duchess  de  Broglie,  in  Paris.)  In  plain  terms, 
schools  must  be  established  for  females. 
Schools,  together  with  the  word  of  God,  must 
produce  a  happy  effect. 

"So  far  as  I  have,  or  may  have  anything  to 
do  with  education,  the  Bible  must  form  a  part. 
You  know  its  value,  and  I  need  not  say  any- 
thing on  the   importance  of  its  forming  a  part 


MEMOIR   OF    HANNAH    L.    MURRAY.  193 

of  the  education  of  females,  as  well  as  males. 
I  have  been  led  to  think  more  of  its  import- 
ance, from  having  seen  many,  who  were  called 
accomplished  ladies,  and  who,  indeed,  had  re- 
ceived in  many  respects  a  most  brilliant  educa- 
tion. Music  flowed  sweetly  from  under  their 
fingers,  they  sung  in  an  enchanting  manner, 
moved  with  grace,  and  conversed  with  ease  : 
but  the  Bible  had  entered  so  little  into  their 
education,  that  they  scarcely  knew  which 
came  first.  Genesis  or  Revelation.  All  this 
seemed  to  be  well,  so  long  as  the  sun  of  pros- 
perity shone  upon  them,  and  the  flowers  of 
spring  lay  scattered  in  their  path ;  but  the 
moment  the  breath  of  adversity  touched  them, 
these  '  daughters  of  music  were  brought  low.' 
But  I  am  wandering  from  what  I  intended  to 
say  to  you,  when  I  first  took  up  my  pen  to 
answer  your  letter — and  now  I  have  not  room 
to  say  it.  I  can  only  say,  that  I  am  willing  to 
confess  more  than  you  demand,  '  that  ladies' 
not  only  '  sometimes,''  but  very  often  '  know 
better  than  gentlemen.'  This  was  certainly 
the  case  with  regard  to  the  articles  which  you 
mention.  As  to  the  tea,  which  you  had  the 
goodness  to  send  me,  there  is  enough  for  many 
months ;  but  I  must  frankly  say,  that  a  cup  of 
tea,  made  by  my  own  hand,  and  drank  alone, 
does  not  relish  so  well  as  when  taken  in  com- 
pany with  my  friends  in  New  York.     Still  a 

9 


194  MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

cup  of  tea  is  always  refreshing.  I  sometimes 
think  that  I  can  write  a  better  letter,  immedi- 
ately after  taking  a  cup  of  '  this  soother  of 
cares,'  than  at  any  other  time.  You  will  per- 
ceive that  this  letter  was  written  in  the  middle 
of  the  day,  and  that  no  effect  of  the  tea  is 
visible,  except  that  of  exciting  in  the  heart 
of  the  writer  feelings  of  gratitude,  which  he 
would  wish  now  to  express  to  the  giver. 

"  I  beg  you  will  present  my  best  regards  to 
your  sister,  and  believe  me  to  be, 
"Your  sincere  friend, 

"  And  very  obt.,  humble  servant, 

"  Jonas  King." 

"U.  S.  Ship  Vincennes, 
''Harbor  of  Oahu,  Feb.  2lst,  1829. 

''  My  dear  fuiends  : — 

"  It  was  my  intention  to  have  written,  long 
before  this  time,  but  I  have  been  so  fully  oc- 
cupied, at  all  times  and  in  all  places,  as  to 
think  there  w^ould  be  '  a  more  convenient  sea- 
son'' than  the  passing  moment.  But  in  this  I 
am  deceived,  and  perhaps  I  could  not,  at  any 
period  of  my  voyage,  have  attempted  to  write 
under  circumstances  of  greater  hurry  and  con- 
fusion. The  Vincennes  has  already  been  at 
these  Islands  seven  weeks,  and  we  are  now 
within  a  day  of  our  departure  for  Canton,  and 
necessarily  in  much  of  a  bustle. 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  195 

'^I  ought  to  have  said  in  connection  with  the 
full  occupation  of  my  time,  that  an  additional 
difficulty  in  writing  arose  from  the  number 
and  variety  of  scenes  and  incidents  through 
which  we  have  passed,  and  the  impossibility 
of  readily  making  a  choice  of  any  one  in  par- 
ticular as  the  subject  of  a  communication. 
Scarce  any  would  fail  of  interesting  you, 
though  many  are  of  the  most  opposite  cast 
and  character.  Since  our  arrival  at  this  group, 
I  have  been  kept  constantly  in  an  almost  fe- 
verish state  of  excitement,  from  the  intense 
interest  of  passing  scenes.  Seven  weeks  in 
the  review  seem  scarce  so  many  days ;  and  a 
volume  could  scarce  do  justice  to  all  that  we 
have  seen  and  heard.  Should  Providence 
grant  me  the  continuance  of  health,  and  pro- 
long my  life  to  meet  you,  I  shall  be  happy  in 
submitting  to  your  perusal  a  rough  sketch,  at 
least,  of  our  visit. 

"  Your  presents  to  the  Princess  were  most 
thankfully  received — and  I  have  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  seeing  the  neat  little  work-box  in  ap- 
propriate use,  day  after  day,  in  my  visits 
among  the  chieftains.  The  Princess,  who  is 
the  hereditary  heiress  of  Maui,  was  at  Lahaina 
on  our  arrival,  but  came  to  Oahu  shortly  after, 
in  courtesy  to  Captain  Finch,  and  from  a  de- 
sire to  see  me  as  much  as  possible  during  our 
stay  at  the  Islands.     Captain  Finch,  in  return 


196  MEMOIR    OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

to  the  compliment,  determined  to  make  a 
voyage  to  the  windward  Islands,  to  carry  her 
and  other  chiefs  to  their  respective  residences, 
and  we  have  but  just  reached  Oahu,  after  ac- 
complishing this  object.  The  party  up  was 
very  large,  and  very  imposing  in  its  titles — 
consisting  of  His  Majesty,  the  King,  and  suite, 
the  Princess  and  attendants,  a  queen  to  ma- 
tronize  her,  another  queen  and  Madam  Boki, 
the  wife  of  the  Governor  of  Oahu,  as  compan- 
ions of  the  former,  the  Governors  of  Maui  and 
Hawaii,  and  Naihe,  Chief  Counsellor  of  State, 
with  his  wife,  Kapiolani,  one  of  the  most  in- 
teresting personages  on  this  side  of  the  globe, 
&c.  &c.,  amounting  to  no  less  than  thirty-five 
individuals.  The  Princess  intends  answering 
your  kind  letter  immediately,  and,  if  possible, 
will  send  her  letter  down  in  time  to  be  carried 
by  myself — if  not,  you  may  expect  to  receive  it 
by  a  first  opportunity  afterwards.  She  is  a  most 
interesting  character,  and  thus  far  a  most  con- 
sistent and  exemplary  member  of  the  Church. 
"  Indeed,  not  only  hundreds  and  hundreds 
of  all  classes,  but  the  whole  nation  are  in  a 
most  interesting  and  affecting  state.  On  the 
Island  of  Hawaii,  the  one  or  two  solitary  mis- 
sionaries there,  amidst  its  thousands  and  tens 
of  thousands,  cannot  (literally)  find  time  for 
eating  and  sleeping,  such  crowds  come  to  them 
daily,  from  the  most  distant  parts,  to  be  guided 


MEMOIR  OP   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  197 

in  the  way  of  eternal  life.  I  never  myself 
Lave  experienced  emotions  like  those  I  have 
felt  in  attending  religious  meetings  with  some 
of  these ;  it  was  impossible  for  any  one  not  a 
stranger  to  the  breathings  of  a  pious  spirit,  to 
refrain  from  tears  of  deep  sympathy,  gratitude, 
and  joy  ;  and  impressions  have  been  left  on  my 
mind  that  can  never  be  effaced.  But  all  these 
things  must  be  left  for  the  happy  intercourse, 
viva  voce,  which,  I  trust,  in  the  goodness  of 
God,  we  shall  yet  be  permitted  to  enjoy. 
Time  and  room  are  only  left  to  send  my  best 
love  to  your  venerated  mother,  your  dear 
sisters  Ogden  and  Murray,  your  brother,  and 
to  John  and  Ellen,  with  kind  remembrance 
and  regards  to  all  other  friends.  My  prayers 
are  daily  with  you  all.  May  we  be  permitted 
to  meet  in  happiness  again  in  this  world,  but 
above  all  for  that  glorious  meeting  in  heaven, 
where  there  will  be  no  after  separation. 
"  Your  sincere  and  affectionate  Friend, 

"  Charles  Stewart." 

The  following  letters  have  been  selected 
from  her  correspondence  with  the  late  Mrs. 
Isabella  Boyd,  of  Portland,  in  the  State  of 
Maine.  Mrs.  Boyd  was  the  niece  of  the  late 
Rufus  King,  and  the  wife  of  Joseph  C.  Boyd, 
Esq.,  and  attached  to  the  Methodist  Church. 
She  was  an  accomplished  lady,  long  remem- 


198  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

bered  by  a  large  circle  of  friends,  and  greatly- 
endeared  to  Miss  Murray. 

''New  York,  Sept.  I6th,  1808. 
"  In  reading  your  letter  (I  cannot  say  why) 
my  heart  was  sensibly  struck  with  my  utter 
unworthiness  of  any  title  to  be  called  a  child 
of  God ;  and  I  felt  as  nothing  and  less  than 
nothing,  and  vanity.  Perhaps  it  was,  that  you 
struck  that  chord  to  which  my  heart  more 
strongly  vibrates  than  to  almost  any  other ; 
the  deceitfulness  of  riches,  and  the  responsi- 
bility which  devolves  upon  those  who  possess 
them.  That  passage  of  our  Saviour  which 
declares  that  "  it  is  easier  for  a  camel  to  go 
through  the  eye  of  a  needle,  than  for  a  rich 
man  to  enter  the  kingdom  of  Heaven,"  has 
always  appeared  to  my  mind  a  solemn  and 
awful  saying,  and  which  called  for  great 
diligence,  watchfulness,  and  prayer  in  those 
whom  he  had  made  stewards  of  the  good 
things  of  this  world,  that  they  might  so  use, 
and  distribute  his  bounty,  that  they  might 
give  comfort  to  their  fellow-creatures,  and 
bring  glory  to  his  great  name.  But  who  is 
sufficient  for  these  things  ?  We  know  not 
how  to  do  anything  as  we  ought,  and  have 
need  continually  to  cry  unto  God  to  help  us, 
that  we  bring  not  dishonor  on  his  name. 
Surely  those  who  are   united   in  Jesus  their 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.  199 

great  Head,  should  pray  that  each  member  of 
His  mystical  body  should  so  walk,  that  all 
who  see  them,  may  take  knowledge  of  them 
that  they  have  been  with  Him  ;  that  they  have 
set  at  His  feet,  and  learned  of  Him,  who  is 
meek  and  lowly  in  heart.  Pray,  then,  for  me, 
my  dear  friend,  that  I  may  in  all  things  walk 
worthy  the  vocation  wherewith  I  am  called, 
and  adorn  the  doctrine  of  God  my  Saviour,  in 
all  holy  conversation.  ' 

"  The  account  you  give  of  your  Zion  is  en- 
couraging, and  I  sincerely  hope  that  the  Lord 
will  still  continue  to  lengthen  her  cords,  and 
strengthen  her  stakes ;  and  cause  her  children 
to  break  forth  on  every  side.  But  even  in  the 
darkest  times,  we  should  not  be  faint  in  our 
hearts,  remembering  that  Zion's  God  hath 
said  the  gates  of  hell  should  never  prevail 
against  her;  that  she  is  precious  in  his  sight, 
and  graven  on  the  palms  of  his  hands  ]  and 
that  her  walls  are  continually  before  him. 
When  we  are  gloomy,  and  despond,  it  shows 
how  weak  our  faith  and  trust  are.  Oh !  what 
a  glorious  attainment  it  is  to  have  a  perfect 
trust  in  the  Lord  our  God.  Feelinsr  that  He 
doeth  all  things  well,  how  peaceful  would  our 
passage  through  this  wilderness  be,  and  with 
what  joy  should  we  hail  that  hour,  which 
should  translate  us  from  this  scene  of  trial,  to 
our  Father's  house,  where  there  are  fulness 


200  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.   MURRAY. 

of  joys  .ind  pleasures  for  evermore.  But  it  is 
not  so  with  us ;  sin  hath  marred  our  comfort, 
and  destroyed  our  peace,  and  we  dread  that 
which  ought  to  be  our  greatest  joy. 

"  I  feel  thankful  that  the  Lord  hath  enlarged 
my  heart  so  as  to  love  all  who  love  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  by  whatever  name  they  may  be 
called.  Those  in  whom  I  most  delight  are 
of  a  different  denomination  from  myself  But 
if  we  agree  in  the  one  great  point,  my  mind 
is  not  troubled  about  non-essentials.  I  am 
entirely  of  St.  Paul's  opinion,  that  a  man 
should  be  fully  persuaded  in  his  own  mind ; 
and  think  that  the  particular  fQ:Km  which  is 
most  congenial  to  his  feelings  is  Ihe  best  for 
him.  But  I  cannot  set  one  above  another,  who 
have  built  upon  the  foundation  Christ  Jesus, 
that  Rock  which  can  never  be  moved  ;  and  I 
would  with  pleasure  give  the  right  hand  of 
fellowship  to  all  who  are  desirous  of  promot- 
ing the  Redeemer's  kingdom  upon  earth.  We 
should  not  fall  out  by  the  way,  for  we  have 
enough  to  do  with  our  own  hearts;  and  when 
we  look  into  them  we  need  not  be  astonished 
at  St.  John's  caution,  '  Little  children,  keep 
yourselves  from  idols.'  For  no  sooner  is  one 
cast  down  than  we  find  another  exalted  in 
its  place.  Oh !  that  the  Lord  would  cast 
down  within  me,  every  high  thought  and 
every  proud  imagination,  and  bring  every  de- 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  201 

sire  of  my  heart  into  sweet  captivity  to  the 
obedience  of  Christ. 

"  As  to  your  dear  Mary,  we  feel  as  if  we  had 
"been  ahnost  cheated  out  of  our  visit  from  her; 
as  uncle  Walter  has  almost  monopolized  her. 
And  I  assure  you  we  hardly  think  it  is  quite 
fair ;  but  he  seems  to  feel  as  if  he  had  a  kind 
of  right  to  them  both.  I  am  sure  you  wall  be 
well  satisfied  that  you  consented  to  her  taking 
this  jaunt,  as  she  is  so  much  improved  in  her 
health.  She  begins  to  get  a  color,  and  her 
cheeks  begin  quite  to  puff  out.  I  do  not 
wonder  that  you  are  loth  to  part  with  her,  as 
in  her  you  must  lose  daughter,  companion,  and 
friend.  But  you  must  endeavor  to  console 
yourself  in  her  absence,  by  considering  that 
it  gives  us  great  pleasure  to  have  her  with 
us,  and  that  she  will  be  better  able  to  dis- 
charge her  duties,  w^hen  she  returns  to  you. 

"I  hope  you  will  never  be  backward  in  re- 
lating to  me  any  interesting  incidents  respect- 
ing the  progress  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom 
in  your  portion  of  the  vineyard,  as  I  hope  it 
will  be  always  pleasing  to  me  to  hear  of  the 
ingathering  of  souls  to  the  fold  of  Christ. 
I  fervently  pray  that  the  time  may  soon  come, 
when  there  shall  be  but  one  fold,  and  one 
Shepherd,  and  when  all  shall  be  gathered 
together  in  one,  in  Christ  Jesus.  Farewell, 
my  dear  friend,  may  the  Shepherd  of  Israel 


202  MEMOIR   OF    HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

watch  over  you  at  all  times  for  good,  and, 
under  every  trial  to  which  he  may  call  you, 
give  you  that  peace  which  passeth  all  under- 
standing. Hannah  L.  Murray." 

''  New-  York,  May  16th. 
"  You  know  not,  my  dear  Mrs.  Boyd,  how 
gratifying  your  unreserved  communications  are 
to  me.  It  makes  me  feel  as  if  my  heart 
met  yours  in  every  line,  and  enables  me  to 
realize  that  communion  of  souls,  which  is  one 
of  the  highest  enjoyments  of  which  we  are 
capable  in  this  earthly  pilgrimage,  except  that 
of  communion  with  the  Father  and  with  the 
Son  and  with  the  Holy  Spirit.  And  perhaps  it 
draws  us  nearer  together  than  many  years  of 
common  acquaintance  could  have  done.  May 
the  God  of  all  mercy,  who  doeth  as  seemeth 
him  good,  grant  a  blessing  upon  this  inter- 
course of  love,  as  I  humbly  trust  it  is,  and 
sanctify  it  to  the  comfort,  and  edification  of 
our  souls!  Shall  I  say  that  your  account  of 
yourself  has  encouraged  my  heart,  and  caused 
some  of  those  feelings  which  have  oft-times 
oppressed  it  to  pass  away,  and  to  make  me 
resigned  to  walk  always  in  the  valley,  if  it  be 
the  will  of  my  gracious  God,  who  knows  bet- 
ter what  I  can  bear,  than  I  do  myself  I  have 
earnestly  desired  to  have  more  sensible  mani- 
festations of  his  favor  and  love  than  I  have 


MEMOIR   OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  203 

ever  yet  experienced,  and  have  sometimes 
almost  concluded,  from  the  coldness  and  stu- 
pidity of  my  heart,  that  I  Could  have  no  part 
or  lot  in  this  matter.  But  our  merciful  God  is 
near  to  us,  when  we  have  withdrawn  our- 
selves from  him  by  unbelief,  and  has  brought 
back  to  my  mind  so  forcibly  the  recollection 
of  past  times,  that  I  have  been  constrained  to 
exclaim  ' whereas  I  was  blind,  now  I  see;' 
Lord,  I  believe,  help  thou  mine  unbelief.  And 
to  this  I  cling,  and  receive  it  as  a  token  for 
good.  I  earnestly  desire  not  to  deceive  my- 
self, and  it  is  my  fervent  prayer  to  him  who 
knoweth  all  things  that  he  would  search  me, 
and  try  me,  and  show  me  the  evil  that  is  in 
me,  and  lead  me  in  the  way  everlasting.  Oh  ! 
it  is  a  precious  truth  to  me  that  the  Lord 
knoweth  our  frame,  that  he  remembreth  we 
are  but  dust,  and  that  when  he  calls  us  to  trial 
in  the  furnace  of  affliction,  he  sitteth  as  the  re- 
finer, careful  that  nothing  but  our  dross  should 
be  purged  away,  and  that  we  should  come 
forth  seven  times  purified  from  the  fire.  Oh  ! 
what  a  foundation  have  true  believers  to  rest 
upon  ;  that  rock  of  ages  which  can  never  be 
moved  ;  what  a  high  tower  to  protect  them 
into  which  they  may  run  and  be  safe  ;  what  a 
hiding-place  from  the  enemy  of  their  souls ; 
what  a  retreat  of  comfort  and  refreshment  in 
their  pilgrimage  through  this  wilderness,  which 


204       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

is  to  the  soul  as  the  shadow  of  a  great  rock  in  a 
weary  land.  In  what  a  wonderful  manner  has 
our  gracious  God  accommodated  himself  to  our 
weakness  by  describing  the  blessings  of  his 
favor  and  love  in  such  language  as  we  can 
comprehend,  and  by  comparisons  with  those 
things  which  give  our  finite  minds  the  greatest 
pleasure,  delight,  comfort,  and  security  to  con- 
template. Surely  there  is  no  God  like  unto 
our  God,  who  is  full  of  mercy  and  compassion, 
who  doth  not  willingly  grieve  or  afflict  the  chil- 
dren of  men  ;  but  pities  them  as  a  father 
pitieth  his  children.  Hath  he  not  said  his  angel 
shall  encamp  around  them  ;  that  when  they 
pass  through  the  waters,  he  will  be  with  them, 
and  through  the  rivers,  they  shall  not  overflow 
them ;  that  w  hen  they  walk  through  the  fire, 
it  shall  not  burn  them  ;  neither  shall  the  flame 
kindle  upon  them,  and  that  all  things,  whether 
prosperity  or  adversity,  sickness  or  health 
should  all  work  together  for  their  good  ?  Oh  ! 
what  inconsistent  creatures  are  we,  who  have 
professed  to  put  our  trust  in  this  God,  to  be 
over  careful  or  thoughtful  concerning  anything 
in  this  life.  Well  may  we  exclaim,  Lord,  in- 
crease our  faith  !  Our  Heavenly  Father  deals 
not  with  all  his  children  alike,  but  as  he  seeth 
best  for  them.  He  hath  followed  me  with 
mercies  all  the  days  of  my  life,  and  caused  my 
cup  to  overflow  with  blessings,  and  as  it  were. 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  205 

hath  left  me  nothing  to  ask  of  him  for  this 
life.  I  am  an  astonishment  to  myself  when  I 
think  that  I  am  not  more  entirely  devoted  to 
His  service,  and  ready  to  say  at  all  times, 
Lord  hei'e  am  I,  send  me  ;  instead  of  feeling 
like  Moses,  and  prompt  to  make  excuses  con- 
tinually, when  He  requires  of  me  what  is  con- 
trary to  the  flesh.  Surely  the  long-suffering  of- 
the  Lord  is  wonderful,  or  the  command  had 
long  since  gone  forth,  '  Cut  her  down,  why 
cumbereth  she  the  ground.'  With  gratitude 
I  may  say,  hitherto  the  Lord  hath  helped  me, 
He  hath  brought  me  on  step  by  step,  opening 
by  degrees  my  eyes  to  behold  as  much  as  He 
saw  I  was  able  to  bear.  He  has  never  called 
me  to  view  Him  from  those  depths  in  which 
many  souls  have  been  almost  overwhelmed ; 
but  when  sin  has  been  most  powerfully  set 
home,  the  all-sufficient  atonement  has  been 
clearly  revealed.  I  have  never  experienced 
those  sensible  and  glorious  manifestations  of 
His  love  which  many  of  God's  dear  children 
enjoy,  but  I  feel  that  such  a  slothful,  unfaithful 
servant  has  no  right  to  expect  such  marks  of 
favor  from  their  Master.  It  is  those  whom 
He  calls  to  great  trials  that  He  thus  vouch- 
safes to  comfort  and  refresh  by  such  special 
visitations  of  His  love  ;  and  by  the  strength 
of  which,  their  souls  are  prepared  to  endure, 


206  MEMOIR  OP   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

in  such  a  way  as  to  bring  glory  to  His  great 
name. 

"  You  say  you  know  not  why  you  have  opened 
your  heart  so  freely.  No  doubt  it  is,  that  the 
Lord  has  designed  you  as  an  instrument  of 
good  in  His  hand  to  my  soul,  and  that  though 
absent  in  body,  we  may  be  united  in  spirit, 
and  praise  the  Lord  together  for  His  wonder- 
ful works.  You  may  be  the  means  of  stirring 
up  my  mind,  of  strengthening  my  faith,  of  an- 
imating me  in  the  heavenly  course.  And  is 
it  not  a  delightful  thought  that  we  may  be  co- 
workers with  Christ  and  helpers  of  those  who 
are  endeavoring  to  walk  in  that  way  which 
leadeth  unto  life  eternal.  Then,  my  dear 
friend,  pray  for  me,  that  my  views  of  eternal 
things  may  be  clear  ;  that  I  may  walk  by  faith 
and  not  by  sight ;  that  I  may  endure  as  seeing 
him  who  is  invisible,  and  that  every  thought 
and  desire  of  my  heart  may  be  brought  into 
sweet  captivity  to  the  obedience  of  Christ. 
As  Newton  says,  is  there  not  a  centre  where 
we  may  often  meet,  and  in  that  love  which 
is  the  bond  of  perfectness,  mingle  our  prayers 
for  the  prosperity  of  each  other's  soul  ?  Oh  ! 
what  a  vast  field  of  pleasure  and  delight  does 
this  idea  unfold  to  the  mind. 

"As  to  our  James,  he  has  found  by  some 
means  or  other  the  way  to  our  hearts,  and  I 
sincerely  hope  the  interest  he  has  excited  in 


MEMOIR  OP   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  207 

US  may  be  directed  towards  Ins  everlasting 
good.  I  do  watch  over  him,  I  trust,  with  a 
tender  care,  and  would  gladly  supply  the 
place  of  his  beloved  mother,  in  her  absence, 
if  it  were  in  my  power.  But  I  know  that  can- 
not be ;  yet  in  my  measure  I  desire  to  do  him 
good,  and  daily  ask  counsel  of  Him  w^ho  can 
give  us  a  mouth  and  wisdom,  that  w^e  may  be 
something  in  Him  w^hen  w^e  are  nothing  in 
ourselves.  I  cannot  but  think,  that  he  will 
one  day  be  a  great  blessing  to  you ;  a  stand- 
ard-bearer in  the  cause  of  our  Redeemer, 
and  one  that  shall  be  valiant  for  the  truth 
upon  the  earth.  This  at  least  is  my  prayer 
for  him,  and  it  is  a  subject  of  very  sweet  con- 
templation. 

"  You  see  I  am  hasty  in  answ^ering  your 
letter,  but  you  know  not  the  selfish  motive 
which  actuates  me.  I  am  afraid  your  writing 
fever  w^ill  subside,  and  I  am  anxious  to  avail 
myself  of  its  animating  effects  as  much  as  I 
can,  not  having  yet  found  that  my  patience  is 
in  the  least  wearied,  but  that  I  shall  readily 
and  joyfully  accept  another  draught  to  the 
same  amount. 

"  A  thought  has  come  into  my  mind,  that 
as  riding  agrees  w^ith  you,  a  jaunt  to  our  city 
might  be  beneficial  to  you,  and  I  hope  I  need 
not  say,  that  a  visit  from  you  would  give  us  all 
a  very  peculiar  pleasure.  And  I  do  not  see  w  hy 


208  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

you  should  not  take  it  into  serious  considera- 
tion. James  has  just  informed  me  that  the 
vessel  sails  to-morrow,  therefore  I  must  put  an 
end  to  my  lengthy  epistle.  That  our  gracious 
God  may  continue  to  lift  upon  you  the  light  of 
His  countenance,  give  you  that  peace  which 
passeth  all  understanding,  and  cause  you  to 
hear  the  voice  of  the  bridegroom,  that  your 
joy  may  be  full,  is  the  sincere  prayer  of  your 
friend, 

"  Hannah  L.  Murray." 

"  New  York,  July  6th,  1818. 
"  You  must  not  apologize  to  me  for  not 
speedily  answering  my  letters.  Though  it 
always  gives  me  pleasure  to  receive  these 
marks  of  your  remembrance,  yet  I  do  not 
wish  you  to  feel  our  correspondence  the  least 
burden  upon  you.  When  it  is  quite  con- 
venient, and  agreeable,  write  to  me,  and  I 
shall  be  thankful  for  the  communication.  I 
know  you  must  have  numberless  things  to 
employ  your  time  and  attention ;  and  I  will 
not  suppose  you  do  not  think  of  me,  when  I 
am  longer  than  usual  in  receiving  a  letter  from 
you.  You  will  not  misunderstand  this,  but 
feel  it  just  as  I  do,  and  be  satisfied  that  when- 
ever you  can  write  it  will  give  great  pleasure 
to  your  friend.  Before  this  you  will  have 
been   made    happy  in   a  sight  of  your   dear 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNxVH   L.  MURRAY.  209 

James.  I  rejoiced  in  his  going,  and  yet  did 
not  feel  quite  pleased  that  he  should  go  while 
we  were  absent  from  home  ;  but,  no  doubt,  it 
is  all  right,  and  best.  I  hope  you  will  find 
him  improved  in  those  things  which  are  essen- 
tial for  this  life,  and  I  hope  also  that  he  may 
be  found  progressing  towards  the  kingdom  of 
God.  My  heart's  desire  is,  that  he  may  be 
diligently  seeking  for  that  pearl  of  great  price, 
for  which  he  may  be  willing  to  give  up  all 
that  he  hath,  and  to  account  all  things  but 
loss  for  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of 
Christ  Jesus  his  Lord  ;  that  he  may  be  willing 
to  become  a  fool  for  Christ's  sake,  and  as  a 
little  child  set  at  His  feet,  and  learn  of  Him 
who  was  meek  and  lowly  in  heart ;  and  ac- 
count the  wisdom  of  this  world  as  foolishness, 
compared  with  that  wisdom  which  cometh 
from  above,  and  which  maketh  wise  unto 
salvation.  I  think,  my  dear  friend,  you 
have  great  encouragement  to  hope  that  God 
will  visit  your  children  in  mercy,  and  adopt 
them  into  His  holy  family — since  He  has  given 
great  and  precious  promises  to  the  faithfulness 
of  parents,  saying  that  if  they  will  bring  up  a 
child  in  the  way  he  should  go,  when  he  is  old 
he  will  not  depart  from  it.  And  I  do  verily 
believe  you  are  faithful  to  the  souls  of  your 
children,  and  travail  with  them  a  second  time, 
that   they  may  be  born  unto  God.     And  oh 


210  MEMOIR   OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRA.Y. 

may  you,  as  did  Jacob  of  old,  when  wrestling 
with  the  God  of  all  grace,  find  favor  with  Him, 
and  prevail ;  that  in  that  great  day,  when  the 
assembled  universe  shall  stand  before  the 
Judge,  you  may  be  enabled  to  say.  Lord,  here 
am  I,  and  the  children  thou  hast  given  me. 

"  I  thank  you  for  your  caution,  but  have 
myself  for  a  long  time  been  aware,  both  of 
the  sin  and  danger  of  impatience  under  the 
dealings  of  God;  and  endeavor  constantly  to 
bring  to  mind,  that  He  knows  what  is  best  for 
His  creatures,  and  that  I  should  rest  satisfied 
in  the  knowledge  of  this  truth.  But  my 
prayer  is,  that  my  faith  may  be  increased  and 
confirmed,  that  I  may  say  with  Job,  though 
He  slay  me  yet  will  I  trust  in  Him.  I  am 
happy  to  find,  by  your  account,  that  your  Zion 
is  arising  from  the  dust  and  putting  on  her 
beautiful  garments.  Oh  !  may  the  Lord  length- 
en her  cords,  and  strengthen  her  stakes,  and 
cause  her  children  to  break  forth  on  every 
side  ;  and  may  the  different  denominations  of 
Christians  in  the  midst  of  her  live  in  unity, 
and  exercise  that  love  towards  each  other, 
which  is  the  characteristic  of  the  disciples  of 
Jesus.  Remember  me  affectionately  to  your 
family,  but  especially  to  my  dear  James ;  and 
tell  him  I  have  a  scolding  in  store  for  him,  on 
account  of  his  delinquency  in  writing  since  he 
left  us.     Not  one  line  have  we  had  from  him 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       211 

yet.     Farewell,  and   may  the   God  of  peace 
and  love  abide  with  you  forever. 

"  Hannah  L.  Murray." 

*'  New  York,  January  6th,  1820. 

"  I  should  have  answered  your  letter,  my  dear 
friend,  before  this,  if  I  could  have  drawn  from 
my  ice-bound  brain  anything  that  could  please 
or  edify  you ;  but  in  winter  I  feel  as  if  it  were 
shut  up,  and  as  if  there  were  no  passage  for 
the  ingress  or  egress  of  ideas.  In  fact,  I  am 
perfectly  stupid,  and  do  not  feel  willing  that 
those  I  esteem  should  participate  in  such  con- 
tracted feelings.  But  I  am  not  willing  you 
should  think  me  unmindful  of  you;  and  would 
therefore  rather  risk  my  reputation  as  a  letter- 
writer,  {great  as  it  is,)  than  the  loss  of  one  kind 
thought  from  your  heart. 

"  And  now,  in  answer  to  your  letter,  I  must 
say  I  think  you  deal  hardly  with  yourself.  It 
#vas  perhaps  a  pleasant  idea  to  you  to  imagine 
that  you  might  visit  our  city;  and  I  do  not  see 
that  the  entertainment  of  it  was  wrong,  unless 
you  felt  yourself  restive  and  rebellious  under 
the  knowledge  you  had  of  not  being  able  to 
realize  it.  I  believe  we  are  permitted  to  make 
use  of  everything  here  below,  that  can  make 
our  passage  through  this  wilderness  more  com- 
fortable, provided  it  be  always  in  subserviency 
to  the  will  of  our  heavenly  Father,  and  that 


212       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

He  lias  for  tins  very  purpose  endowed  us  with 
powers  capable  of  feeling  and  relishing  the 
pleasures  and  endearments  of  love  and  friend- 
ship. The  only  danger  is  that  our  perverse 
hearts  will  give  that  portion  of  our  affection  to 
the  creature,  which  is  due  only  to  the  Creator, 
who  is  God  over  all  blessed  forever.  I  am, 
however,  quite  of  your  opinion,  that  it  is  prof- 
itable to  stir  up  each  other's  minds  to  those 
thinos  that  will  conduce  to  our  eternal  well- 
being,  and  to  the  manifestation  of  the  glory 
of  our  God  and  Saviour,  for  we  cannot  be  too 
often  reminded  of  our  duty,  or  urged  to  the 
performance  of  it.  At  least,  I  can  answ^er  for 
myself,  that  I  not  only  need  '  line  upon  line,  line 
upon  line,  precept  upon  precept,  here  a  little, 
and  there  a  little,' but  that  continually  repeated, 
to  keep  me  in  the  way  in  which  I  should  go. 
Oh  !  how  perverse  and  rebellious  we  are,  and 
how  long-suffering  and  forbearing  is  our  God! 
It  is  in  his  mercy  alone  that  we  can  hope.  ♦ 
"  We  have  just  now  entered  on  a  new  year, 
and  with  my  whole  heart  I  wish  it  may  bring 
to  you  an  increase  of  temporal  and  spiritual 
comfort,  that  you  may  see  those  who  are  near 
and  dear  to  you  brought  in  to  be  partakers  of 
the  blessings  of  that  covenant  which  is  ordered 
in  all  things  and  sure,  and  which  entitles  them, 
through  Christ  Jesus,  to  a  glorious  immortality 
beyond  the  grave.     Oh  !  that  you  may  be  in- 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       213 

deed  one  in  Him  who  is  the  head ;  and  tell 
my  dear  Mary  that  I  often  think  of  her,  with 
earnest  desires  that  she  may  be  a  lamb  in  the 
fold  of  that  great  Shepherd,  who  laid  down 
His  life  for  the  sheep. 

"  I  am  pleased  to  hear  you  have  been  as  well 
since  your  confinement,  and  even  better  than 
you  could  have  expected,  and  that  you  have 
witnessed  the  faithfulness  of  God  in  saying, 
that  as  our  day  is,  so  shall  our  strength  be. 
James  is  well,  as  I  suppose  you  often  hear 
from  himself,  and,  although  not  satisfied  with 
his  employment,  I  believe  is  doing  as  well  as 
most  at  this  inauspicious  moment.  Perhaps 
it  is  a  good  discipline  for  young  men  not  al- 
ways to  do  as  they  wish ;  nevertheless,  we 
should  all  rejoice  if  anything  more  advantage- 
ous should  offer.  The  love  and  good  wishes 
of  the  family  attend  you  and  yours, 
"And  believe  me, 

"  With  esteem  and  affection, 
"Your  friend, 

"  Hannah  L.  Murray." 

"  New  YorJi,  May  1st,  1820. 

"It  gave  me  great  pleasure  to  hear,  by  James' 
last  leter,  that  you  had  so  far  regained  your 
health  and  strength  as  to  be  out  in  the  evening; 
which  I  believe  is  no  very  common  thing  with 
you ;  and  must  be  a  cause  of  rejoicing  to  all 


214  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

your  family,  and  to  Mary  most  especially;  tell 
her  I  congratulate  her  on  the  event.  The 
Lord  leads  us  in  a  way  we  know  not,  and  per- 
haps he  is  about  to  restore  to  you  that  bless- 
ing (health)  of  which  you  have  been  so  long 
deprived ;  and  to  give  you  that  enjoyment  in 
the  latter  part  of  your  life  which  He  denied 
you  in  the  earlier  season.  But  in  all  events, 
we  have  reason  to  say  He  doeth  all  things  well. 
He  sees  the  end  from  the  beginning,  and  knows 
what  is  best  suited  to  humble  the  peculiarities 
of  our  tempers ;  and  to  bring  every  thought 
of  our  hearts  into  sweet  captivity  to  the  obe- 
dience of  Christ.  That  all  his  dealings  with  us 
may  have  this  happy  and  salutary  effect,  is  my 
sincere  prayer. 

"  You  have  no  doubt  seen  some  account  of 
the  mission,  that  left  this  place  about  two 
weeks  ago,  for  the  country  of  the  Osage  Indi- 
ans. Their  setting  out  from  this  city  seemed  to 
give  a  new  impulse  to  the  inhabitants,  and 
caused  an  excitement  that  I  have  rarely  seen 
equalled.  And  if  their  progress  be  as  prosper- 
ous as  their  commencement  was  encouraging, 
they  will  have  friends  raised  up  to  bid  them 
God  speed  during  their  long  journeys,  and  be 
received  with  open  arms  by  the  Indians  of  the 
desert.  Oh  !  may  the  Lord  go  with  them,  and 
guide  them  by  his  right  hand;  open  a  way  for 
them  to  the  hearts  of  these   heathens  in  our 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  215 

own  borders,  and  make  them  the  instruments 
of  bringing  many  souls  unto  Jesus  the  great 
Shepherd  of  the  sheep.  May  they  behold  the 
wilderness  bud  and  blossom  as  the  rose,  and 
those  places  which  were  formerly  the  habita- 
tions of  cruelty,  resound  with  the  praises  of 
our  Immanuel.  This  is  the  Lord's  doing,  and  is 
glorious  in  our  eyes,  and  seems  another  pledge 
that  God  will  perform  His  promise  of  giving 
the  heathen  to  his  Son  for  His  inheritance,  and 
the  utermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  His  posses- 
sion, for  the  accomplishment  of  which,  all  who 
sincerely  love  Him  will  devoutly  pray. 

"  But  while  the  friends  of  Zion  are  thus  en- 
gaged in  furthering  the  designs  of  their  Lord 
and  Master,  the  enemy  of  souls  seems  to  be 
equally  active  in  exciting  his  followers  to 
hinder  their  work;  and  I  think  one  of  the 
most  powerful  of  his  engines,  is  the  Socinian 
heresy.  They  have  collected  a  church  among 
us,  and,  a  few  days  since,  laid  the  corner  stone 
of  a  building  for  their  worship.  It  is  a  relig- 
ion so  suited  to  the  natural  heart,  that  I  fear 
it  will  entangle  many,  particularly  among  the 
youth.  I  feel  anxious  about  James,  as  he 
is  fond  of  reading  the  controversy  on  these 
points,  and  I  think  seems  a  little  confused  by 
their  subtleties,  not  having  the  shield  of  faith 
to  guard  him  from  these  fiery  darts.  I  have 
advised  him  not  to  read  anything  of  the  kind, 


216      MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

but  you  know  youthful  curiosity  is  great,  and 
is  eager  to  satisfy  itself.  I  wish  you  would 
write  him  upon  this  subject  and  caution  him, 
for  what  you  say  will  have  great  weight  with 
him ;  do  not  speak  as  if  you  had  heard  any- 
thing from  me,  but  merely  from  the  circum- 
stance of  their  having  established  a  church 
in  this  city.  Now  I  do  not  wish  you  to  feel 
uneasy,  as  he  does  not  go  to  hear  them,  nor 
incline  to  their  principles,  that  I  know  of.  I 
only  want  you  to  give  him  your  opinion,  and 
warn  him  of  the  danger,  as  in  such  cases  one 
cannot  be  too  vigilant.  Offer  my  best  love  to 
JVTary,  and  tell  her  I  am*  rejoiced  that  she  is  so 
much  recovered,  and  hope  the  warm  weather 
will  entirely  recruit  her.  James,  I  suppose, 
answered  that  part  of  your  letter  which  con- 
cerned him,  as  he  could  plead  not  guilty  to 
the  charge.  The  family  all  join  me  in  kind 
remembrances  to  you  and  yours ;  and  take 
for  yourself  the  loi^e  of  your  friend, 

"  Hannah  L.  Murray." 

We  may  not  withhold  a  few  of  her  many 
epistolary  communications  to  her  much  be- 
loved friend,  Miss  Miranda  Southgate,  of 
Maine. 

'''New  Yorh,  June  10th,  1813. 
"  You  no  doubt,  my  dear  Miranda,  begin  to 
think  as  I  do,  that  it  is  high  time  your  letter 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       217 

Avas  answered;  I  will  not  apologize,  because 
I  know  you  can  excuse.  I  often  think  of  you, 
and  that  with  the  sincerest  affection  ;  but  on 
last  Sunday  I  more  than  ever  wished  you  to 
be  with  me.  Our  dear  Mr.  Spring  gave  us  a 
sermon,  that,  from  your  last  letter,  struck  me 
as  very  appropriate  to  your  state  of  mind, 
and  I  wanted  you  to  be  comforted  and 
strengthened  by  it.  He  discoursed  from  these 
words,  '  The  Lord  taketh  pleasure  in  them 
that  fear  Him,  and  in  them  that  hope  in  His 
mercy ;'  and  took  occasion  from  them  to  show 
the  impropriety  of  those  who  have  a  scriptural 
ground  of  hope  that  they  have  been  adopted 
into  the  family  of  God  being  cast  down,  or  of 
their  desponding,  and  mistrusting  either  the 
faithfulness,  power,  or  willingness  of  God  to 
receive  and  bless  them — that  by  this  conduct 
they  did  not  (as  they  were  commanded)  make 
their  light  to  shine  before  men,  but  dishonored 
God  by  supposing  that  the  blood  of  Jesus  was 
not  sufficient  to  cleanse  from  all  sin,  and  that 
He  w^as  not  willing  to  perform  the  promise  He 
had  made  of  receiving  all  that  came  unto  Him 
through  Jesus,  the  w^ay  which  He  had  ap- 
pointed ;  and  that  Christians,  by  indulging 
this  gloom,  instead  of  being  active  in  the  cause 
of  their  Redeemer,  by  the  depression  it  occa- 
sioned, become  useless  and  unprofitable  ser- 
vants.    Shall  we  not,  then,  my  dear  friend, 

10 


218  MEMOIR    OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

endeavor  after  that  confidence  in  His  power 
and  mercy,  which  the  Lord  taketh  pleasure  in 
seeing  His  people  cherish,  and  hope  in  that 
mercy  which  He  has  freely  offered  to  all  who 
are  willing  to  accept  of  it.  Oh,  Miranda, 
how  far  below  their  privileges  do  Christians 
live,  and  of  how  much  comfort  do  they  de- 
prive themselves  by  not  making  an  unreserved 
surrender  of  all  that  they  are,  and  all  that 
they  have  to  the  Lord,  who  hath  promised  to 
be  their  God  and  their  Father,  and  to  watch 
over  them  to  do  them  good  ;  who  hath  prom- 
ised that  as  their  day  is  so  shall  their  strength 
be  ;  and  that  nothing  shall  be  able  to  pluck 
them  out  of  His  hand.  With  how  much  ear- 
nestness should  we  pray,  '  Lord  increase  our 
faith,'  that  we  may  behold  Thy  glory,  that  we 
may  see  the  King  in  His  beauty,  and  that  we 
may  be  changed  by  the  transforming  influences 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  from  sin  and  corruption, 
into  the  glorious  image  of  God,  and  be  made 
meet  for  the  employments  and  enjoyments  of 
heaven.  I  rejoice  with  you,  my  dear  Miranda, 
in  the  Lord's  goodness  to  your  family,  that  by 
His  all-conquering  grace  He  hath  made  them 
willing,  in  a  day  of  His  power,  to  turn  their 
eyes  from  this  world  which  is  vain  and  perish- 
ing, to  those  things  which  are  not  seen  and 
eternal ;  and  thus  in  the  early  part  of  their 
lives   to   devote   themselves   to    His   service. 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       219 

May  He  grant  that  at  all  times  they  may  find 
His  yoke  easy,  and  His  burden  light,  and  that 
they  may  have  joy  and  peace  in  the  Holy 
Ghost.  I  am  happy  to  say,  in  answer  to  your 
question  respecting  our  churches,  that  at  pres- 
ent there  seems  to  subsist  a  very  great  har- 
mony, vs  hich  I  sincerely  hope  may  continue 
and  increase,  that  the  Lord  God  may  dwell  in 
the  midst  of  us  to  bless  us. 

"Harriet  and  John  are  quite  well,  and  de- 
sire to  be  remembered  affectionately  to  you, 
and  little  John  grows  a  precious  child,  and 
looks  very  much  like  his  father.  Mary  and 
mother  join  me  in  sincere  love  to  your  dear 
family,  but  particularly  to  our  Octavia,  for 
whom  we  feel  a  more  than  common  regard, 
I  feel  as  if  I  had  not  said  half  I  wished  to  say, 
now  I  have  begun ;  but  my  paper  reminds  me 
that  I  have  no  more  room,  therefore  I  must 
bid  you  farewell,  when  I  have  commended 
you  unto  Him  who  is  able  to  keep  you  while 
here,  and  to  present  you  before  His  presence 
with  exceeding  joy  in  that  day  when  He 
maketh  up  His  jewels. 

"H.  L.  Murray. 

"  Cousin  John's  family  are  as  w^ell  as  usual. 
Lindley  is  married,  and  Robert  has  a  daugh- 
ter. Mr.  Bowne's  children  were  well  the  last 
time  I  saw  any  of  the  family." 


220  MEMOIR  OP   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

"  New  York,  December  Uth,  1803. 
"  My  heart  is  daily  with  you,  my  dear  Miranda, 
although  my  pen  has  heen  backward  in  letting 
you  know  it.  But  to  you  it  would  be  needless 
to  lill  half  my  letter  with  an  apoloofy  for  not 
writing,  when  in  fact  I  have  none  to  offer,  ex- 
cept the  one  which  you  can  form  for  me,  and 
which  you  will  readily  admit.  '  Art  thou  in 
health,  my  sister,  and  has  thy  soul  been  pros- 
pered in  her  spiritual  journey,  since  we  last 
conversed  together  ?  After  being  wearied  and 
faint  from  the  heat  of  the  day,  hast  thou  been 
enabled  to  sit  down  under  the  shadow  of  the 
Tree  of  Life,  with  great  delight;  while  its 
fruit  was  sweet  and  refreshing  to  thy  taste  ? 
Oh  !  hast  thou  felt  the  influence  of  the  north 
wind,  and  the  breathing  of  the  south  upon  thy 
garden,  so  as  to  cause  the  spices  thereof  to 
flow  forth  ;  and  has  thy  beloved  come  into  his 
garden,  and  eat  of  his  pleasant  fruit  V  If  so, 
truly,  thy  state  is  a  happy  one.  But  as  for 
me,  my  dear  Miranda,  I  am  like  the  barren 
fig-tree,  bringing  forth  no  fruit  to  the  praise 
of  Him  who  hath  so  abundantly  watered  me 
and  dug  about  me,  who  hath  planted  me  in  a 
rich  and  bountiful  soil,  yet  when  He  came, 
reasonably  expecting  fruit,  has  found  none.  Is 
it  not  wonderful  that  the  command  has  not 
long   since  gone  forth,  '  Cut  her  down,  why 


MEMOIR  OF    HANNAH    L.  MURRAY.  221 

cumbereth  she  the  ground  V  But,  oh,  the 
gracious  intercessor  still  pleads,  and  the  voice 
of  mercy  strikes  the  sinner's  ear,  Let  her  alone 
this  year,  peradventure  she  will  bring  forth 
fruit  to  Thy  glory. 

Oh,  pray  for  me,  my  friend,  that  the  Spirit 
of  the  Lord  may  breathe  upon  me,  that  I  may 
live;  that  He  would  pour  out  upon  me  a  spirit 
of  grace  and  supplication,  a  spirit  of  meek- 
ness and  diligence ;  that  I  may  be  aroused 
from  my  sloth,  and  wrestle  with  Him  for  the 
blessing,  even  life  evermore,  and  have  power 
with  Him,  and  prevail  through  the  strength 
and  merits  of  our  Advocate  and  Redeemer. 

How  far  short  do  we  all  live  of  the  privi- 
leges and  duties  of  those  who  profess  to  be 
followers  of  the  Lamb  of  God !  and  being  so 
deficient  in  duty,  w^e  cannot  wonder  that  w^e 
do  not  enjoy  our  privileges,  or  experience 
those  comforts  to  which  the  children  of  God 
have  a  title.  By  our  unfaithfulness  we  obscure 
our  evidence,  and  thus  bring  grief  into  our 
souls,  and  are  often  tempted  to  doubt  whether 
we  have  any  right  to  number  ourselves  among 
the  disciples  of  Jesus.  Surely  it  is  a  just  pun- 
ishment for  our  disobedience,  and  we  have  no 
right  to  complain  that  the  Lord  withdraws 
from  us,  when  it  is  our  sins  that  have  separa- 
ted between  us  and  our  God.  Let  us  then,  my 
dear  friend,  pray  for  a  will  wholly  resigned  to 


222  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

the  requiriiij^s  of  the  Lord  ;  ready  at  all  times 
to  say,  not  my  will  but  thine  be  done :  that  we 
may  pass  peacefully  down  the  stream  of  life, 
and  at  the  close,  when  death  shall  summon  us 
to  appear  before  our  judge,  be  enabled  to  say. 
Come,  Lord,  for  thy  servant  is  ready. 

"  Since  I  last  wrote,  our  dear  uncle  has  been 
removed  from  his  sore  trials  in  this  life. 
Mother  and  Mary  desire  to  be  affectionately 
remembered  to  you  and  yours.  John  and 
Harriet,  with  all  cousin  John's  family,  join  in 
sincere  love  to  you ;  and  Sterlitz  begs  I  will 
present  his  best  respects.  I  believe  at  pres- 
ent there  is  no  truth  in  the  report  of  Mr. 
Bovvne's  marriage;  the  children  are  well.  Re- 
member me,  affectionately,  to  Octavia, 
"And  believe  me,  ever, 

"Your  sincere  friend, 

"Hannah  L.  Murray." 

"  Neiv  York,  August  2nd. 
"  Why  is  my  friend  in  darkness  ?  and  although 
the  child  of  a  king,  does  she  go  mourning  all 
the  day  ?  Let  not  the  tempter  enter,  wdien  he 
would  persuade  you  that  the  blood  of  Jesus  is 
not  sufficient  to  take  away  all  sin,  but  look  out 
of  yourself,  and  up  to  Jesus.  If  His  great 
love  moved  him  to  die  for  sinners,  assuredly 
he  will  not  cast  off  those  who  come  unto  Him 
feeling  the  weight  of  their  iniquities,  and  from 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  223 

the  heart  saying,  Lord,  save  or  I  perish.  Oh, 
my  dear  Miranda,  gird  up  the  loins  of  your 
mind,  and  remember  that  when  our  heavenly 
Father  withholds  from  us  the  light  of  His 
countenance,  and  darkness  and  clouds  seem 
to  encompass  Him,  it  is  for  the  trial  of  our 
faith.  It  is  to  see  whether  it  is  for  His  sake  or 
our  own  that  we  have  hitherto  cleaved  to  Him, 
whether  we  will  maintain  our  integrity,  and 
with  Job  say.  Though  He  slay  me,  yet  will  I 
trust  in  Him.  Surely  it  is  not  strange  that  we 
should  trust  and  rejoice  in  Him  when  He  lifts 
up  the  light  of  His  reconciled  countenance 
upon  us ;  but  it  is  when  w^e  walk  in  darkness 
and  see  no  light,  that  we  are  commanded  to 
trust  in  the  Lord,  and  stay  us  upon  our  God. 
And  remember  that  we  are  also  told  that  those 
who  wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  renew  their 
strength.  Wait  upon  Him  then,  my  friend,  and 
wrestle  with  Him  for  the  blessing,  and  say 
with  Jacob,  I  will  not  let  thee  go  except  thou 
bless  me.  And  oh,  may  He  hear,  answer,  and 
bless  you,  may  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  arise 
upon  you  with  healing  in  His  beams,  and  ena- 
ble you  to  say.  Return  unto  thy  rest,  oh  my 
soul,  for  the  Lord  hath  dealt  bountifully  with 
thee  !  This  doubting  of  his  willingness  to  save 
me,  is  my  infirmity,  I  will  remember  the  time 
of  the  right  hand  of  the  Lord. 

"  How  should  I   rejoice  if  at  this  time  I 


224  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

should  have  spoken  a  word  in  season.  And 
perhaps  it  may  be  so ;  for  the  Lord  often,  very 
often  makes  use  of  base  and  feeble  instru- 
ments to  accomplish  his  purposes,  that  all  the 
glory  may  be  given  to  Him,  to  whom  alone  it 
is  due.  And  shall  we  not  adore  Him  that  He 
accounts  us  worthy  to  be  used  in  any  way  for 
His  glory,  and  as  instruments  of  comfort  to  our 
fellow-creatures.  Oh,  my  friend,  let  us  en- 
deavor to  animate  one  another  in  the  heavenly 
course,  and  pray  that  we  may  have  strength 
given  us  to  run  with  patience  the  race  set  be- 
fore us,  looking  to  Jesus  the  author  and  finisher 
of  our  faith,  who  for  the  joy  set  before  Him 
endured  the  cross,  despising  the  shame,  and 
is  forever  set  down  on  the  right  hand  of 
the  Majesty  on  high  ;  ever  ready  to  succor, 
strengthen,  encourage,  and  comfort  those  who 
are  treading  the  same  path.  Oh  let  us  think 
of  these  things,  and  may  our  hearts  be  anima- 
ted, our  love  inflamed,  our  faith  strengthened, 
and  our  affections  sanctified  by  the  indwelling 
of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Mary  has  entirely  recov- 
ered, and  desires  to  be  most  affectionately  re- 
membered to  you.  Tell  Octavia  not  to  forget 
us,  and  offer  our  kind  regards  to  all  your  fam- 
ily. Cousin  John  continues  much  the  same 
still ;  he  is  at  present  at  Rockaway,  and  is  in 
hopes  that  the  sea-bathing  may  be  useful  to 
him.     Our  whole  family  remember  you  with 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH    L.  MURRAY.  225 

great  affection,  and  believe  me  my  heart  is 
deeply  interested  in  your  happiness.  Adieu, 
my  dear  friend,  and  may  the  peace  of  God 
which  passeth  knowledge  abide  with  you  for- 
ever. 

Hannah  L.  Murray." 

'' New- York,  September  2Sth,  1815. 
"  I  have  this  moment,  my  loved  Miranda,  re- 
ceived your  letter,  and  answer  it  thus  early, 
in  order  to  make  a  proposition  that  may  per- 
haps meet  with  your  approbation,  and  that  of 
your  friends.  My  brother  says  if  you  will 
consent  to  come  round  by  water,  (which  he 
thinks  may  be  very  beneficial  to  you)  he  will 
send  James  Boyd  on  to  accompany  you.  We 
have  still  a  month  of  fine  weather  to  expect, 
and  this  climate  during  the  winter  may  per- 
haps be  more  favorable  to  you  than  your  own. 
Now  consider  of  it,  my  dear  friend,  and  let  me 
know  as  soon  as  possible  your  determination. 
To  say  it  would  make  us  happy  to  have  you 
with  us,  would  only  be  telling  you  what  you 
have  long  since  known.  You  know  not  how 
it  delights  me  to  receive  a  letter  from  you, 
and  yet  I  would  not  have  you  write  if  it 
injures  you  ;  for  whether  you  write  or  not,  I 
shall  always  think  you  love  me,  for  this  per- 
suasion is  too  pleasant  for  me  to  let  go  upon 
slight  grounds.  But  be  assured  you  can  never 
10* 


226  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

be  too  minute  with  regard  to  your  health,  for 
to  me  it  is  an  extremely  interesting  subject ; 
and  I  humbly  pray  that  God  may  yet  grant 
you  many  years  of  comfort  to  yourself,  and 
happiness  to  your  friends,  and  that  when  we 
do  meet  it  may  be  to  our  mutual  edification, 
and  to  our  more  perfect  knowledge  of  that 
peace  which  passeth  all  understanding. 

You  ask  me  to  pray  for  you,  and  say  it 
would  lighten  the  burden  that  oppresses  you, 
if  you  knew  I  was  oifering  my  petitions  in 
your  behalf  Oh  !  may  that  burden  then  be 
quickly  removed;  for  daily  and  nightly,  my 
beloved  friend,  are  my  prayers,  though  weak 
and  imperfect,  offered  up  for  you,  that  He  who 
hath  the  residue  of  the  Spirit,  would  pour  it 
out  upon  you  in  copious  measures ;  that  He 
would  strengthen  your  faith,  and  give  you 
such  realizing  views  of  the  blessedness  of  the 
invisible  world  as  should  entirely  wean  your 
heart  from  the  perishing  things  of  time  and 
sense ;  that  he  would  lift  up  upon  you  the 
light  of  His  reconciled  countenance,  and  en- 
able you  to  rejoice  in  His  salvation.  And  now, 
my  dearest  Miranda,  perhaps  sometimes  when 
you  address  the  throne  of  grace,  and  seem 
not  to  have  a  word  to  say  for  yourself,  your 
heart  may  be  enlarged  to  plead  for  your 
friend,  that  she  may  be  enabled  to  withstand 
the  temptations  of  the  world,  to  set  an  exam- 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.      227 

pie  of  holy  life  and  conversation,  and  to  adorn 
the  doctrine  of  God  her  Saviour  in  all  things, 
to  remember  continually  that  as  God  hath 
given  her  much,  he  will  require  much  of  her, 
and  above  all  pray  that  she  may  have  a 
humble  and  teachable  spirit,  submissive  at  all 
times  to  the  will  of  her  Heavenly  Father. 
Surely  we  cannot  ask  too  great  things  from 
Him  who  hath  given  His  only  Son  to  die  for  us. 
With  the  Apostle  we  may  with  confidence 
exclaim,  '  How  shall  He  not  with  Him  also 
freely  give  us  all  things.'  Oh  let  us  then  con- 
tinue our  trust  firmly  in  Him  who  is  able  to  do 
for  us  better  than  we  can  either  ask  or  think. 
The  Lord  is  now  doing  wonders,  and  we  daily 
hear  of  some  new  work  of  power.  In  Connec- 
ticut the  youth  in  an  especial  manner  seem 
to  be  visited,  and  many  who  before  were 
rebellious  are  made  willing  in  this  day  of 
Almighty  Power.  Oh,  ride  forth,  victorious 
Prince,  in  the  chariotof  thy  gospel,  conquering 
and  to  conquer,  until  every  knee  shall  bow  at 
the  name  of  Jesus,  and  every  tongue  confess 
that  he  is  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God  the  Father. 
Accept  the  united  love  of  our  family,  and  be- 
lieve me  as  ever  your  sincere  friend. 

"  PL  L.  Murray." 

"New  York,  March  25th,  1816. 
"  When  I  received  your  letter,  my  dear  Mi- 


228       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY, 

randa,  I  did  not  think  as  many  days  would 
elapse  as  weeks  have  passed  by,  without  an 
acknowledgment  from  me  of  the  sincere  pleas- 
ure which  a  communication  from  you  always 
affords  me.  It  is  really  a  refreshment  to  my 
heart,  and  a  spur  to  my  spirit,  and  I  feel  as  if 
Ave  mingled  soul  with  soul,  while  I  read  the 
expressions  of  your  love,  and  your  fervent  de- 
sires that  our  friendship  may  be  continued 
throughout  a  never-ending  eternity.  But  oh! 
my  loved  Miranda,  I  blush  when  I  think  what 
an  unworthy  friend  you  have  chosen,  how  far 
she  falls  below  the  estimate  your  partial  judg- 
ment has  made,  and  think  that  if  you  could 
see  me  as  I  see  myself,  you  would  no  longer 
retain  any  affection  for  me.  If  you  could  see 
how  cold  my  heart  is  towards  that  God  who 
has  been  continually  pouring  blessings  upon 
me,  and  who  alone  is  worthy  to  engage  the 
most  ardent  feelings  of  our  whole  soul;  if  you 
could  see  how  slothful  I  am  in  His  service 
whose  service  is  perfect  freedom ;  you  would 
blush  for  me,  and  feel  that  shame  and  confu- 
sion of  face  belonged  eminently  unto  me.  And 
it  is  often  with  wonder  and  amazement  that  I 
contemplate  His  goodness  in  giving  me  a  place 
in  the  hearts  of  some  of  His  dear  children;  but 
I  trust  it  is  a  blessing  of  which  I  am  truly 
sensible. 

"  I  know  it  is  always  a  cause  of  rejoicing  to 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.  229 

you  to  hear  of  the  increase  of  the  Redeemer's 
kingdom :  and  it  is  with  joy  unspeakable  that 
I  can  say,  the  Lord  seems  in  an  especial  man- 
ner to  be  pouring  out  His  Spirit  upon  the  youth 
of  our  congregation,  and  blessing  the  endeav- 
ors of  our  beloved  pastor  to  lead  them  in  the 
way  of  truth  and  life.  And  this  manifestation 
of  His  power  is  arousing  His  own  people  to 
wrestle  with  Him,  for  a  more  abundant  display 
of  His  grace,  and  that  the  preaching  of  Christ 
Jesus,  and  Him  crucified  may  prove  the  power 
of  God,  and  the  wisdom  of  God  unto  the  sal- 
vation of  many,  many  souls.  Oh !  my  dear 
friend,  how  should  it  rejoice  our  hearts  to  see 
the  Lord  thus  riding  forth  in  the  chariot  of  His 
Gospel,  conquering,  and  to  conquer;  and  cause 
us  to  cry.  The  Lord  God  Omnipotent  reigneth, 
let  the  whole  earth  rejoice.  And  is  not  this 
a  w^onderful  age  in  which  we  live,  both  as  it 
respects  the  kingdoms  of  the  world,  and  the 
kingdom  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  ?  Are  there 
not  overturnings  and  overturnings  that  seem  to 
signify  that  He  is  coming  whose  right  it  is  to 
take  unto  Him  His  great  power,  and  rule  King 
of  nations,  as  He  is  King  of  saints.  Oh  !  that 
you  and  I,  may  be  ready  and  willing  to  say, 
Even  so,  come  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly.  Oh ! 
that  we  may  be  among  those  faithful  servants, 
whom  when  their  Lord  cometh,  He  shall  find 
watching !    But  unto  Him  alone  must  we  look 


230  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

for  grace  and  strength  to  persevere  unto  the 
end;  and  may  He  in  His  mercy  grant,  that  we 
may  run  not  as  uncertainly,  but  so  that  we  may 
obtain  that  crown  of  life,  which  He  will  give 
unto  them  who  love  Him  in  sincerity  and 
truth. 

"  It  is  with  great  pleasure  I  look  forward  to 
this  summer,  in  the  expectation  of  seeing  you 
once  more  among  us.  I  hope  your  health  may 
be  such  as  to  render  it  convenient,  and  proper 
for  you  to  undertake  the  journey;  but  in  all 
things  we  must  submit  our  wishes  and  desires 
to  Him  who  knows  what  is  best  for  us. 

"Mother  and  Mary,  John  and  Harriet,  with 
James,  desire  to  be  affectionately  remembered 
to  you  and  yours,  but  remember  I  am  not  to 
be  left  out  in  the  budget  of  love,  but  take  just 
as  much  from  me  as  you  can  find  room  for  in 
your  heart. 

"Hannah  L.  Murray." 

Reference  has  been  had  to  the  early  and 
affectionate  intimacy  between  Miss  Murray 
and  Miss  Broome,  now  Mrs.  Boggs.  The  fol- 
lowing short  letter  will  be  read  with  interest. 

"  New  York,  September  10,  1829. 
"  My  dear  Sally  : — 

"  When  I  called  this  morning  to  see  you,  I 
was  grieved  to  hear  that  so  many  of  you  were 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.      231 

sick,  and  should  have  been  glad  if  in  any  way 
I  could  have  administered  to  your  comfort. 
But  I  well  know  that  under  your  present 
heavy  affliction  you  must  look  higher  than  the 
sympathy  of  earthly  friends,  for  He  who 
^vounds  alone  can  heal.  But  though  I  cannot 
alleviate  your  sorrows  by  mingling  my  tears 
with  yours,  I  can  bear  you  on  my  heart  to  our 
Father  who  is  in  heaven,  and  plead  with  Him 
for  Christ's  sake  to  send  the  Comforter  unto 
you,  even  the  Spirit  of  Truth,  who  is  able  to 
bring  light  out  of  darkness,  to  calm  the  per- 
turbed mind,  and  to  pour  consolation  into  the 
wounded  heart.  How  often,  my  dear  friend, 
are  we  called  to  realize  the  truth,  that  this  is 
not  our  rest ;  and  yet,  foolish  as  we  are,  we 
continue  to  lay  our  plans  for  this  fleeting  life, 
as  if  it  were  the  limit  of  our  existence,  and 
the  ultimate  end  of  all  our  actions.  But  God 
does  not  leave  us  to  ourselves,  but  in  faithful- 
ness and  in  mercy  chastises  us,  cuts  off  the 
streams  of  our  earthly  comforts,  that  we  may 
return  to  the  fountain,  and  feel  that  there 
alone  we  have  constant  and  adequate  supplies 
for  every  exigence. 

"  To  say  that  I  have  felt  keenly  for  you  in 
this  bereavement  is  not  necessary  ;  for  you 
know  that  in  your  sorrows  I  am  afflicted  and 
in  your  happiness  I  have  always  rejoiced. 
We  have  been  united  from  children,  I  trust. 


232  MEMOIR  OF    HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

in  a  sincere  love — and  that  this  love  and 
friendship  may  be  continued,  and  be  cemented 
by  that  love  which  endures  throughout  an 
endless  eternity,  is  the  sincere  prayer  of  your 
"  Affectionate 

"  H.  L.  Murray. 

"  Remember  us  all  with  tender  love  and 
sympathy  to  your  husband  and  children,  and 
if  Mary  or  myself  can  be  of  any  service  to  you 
I  hope  you  will  make  use  of  us." 

"  New  York,  January  \st,  1825. 
"  To  Mrs.  Mary  Deveaux. 

"  My  dear  Mary, — A  happy  new-year  to 
you  all  in  the  best  and  true  sense  of  the  phrase. 
May  old  things  be  done  away  and  all  things 
indeed  become  new  with  you.  May  all  crea- 
tion appear  brighter  and  more  glorious,  seen 
through  the  mercy  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus,  and 
the  perspective  be  gilded  by  the  hopes  which 
spring  from  a  living  faith  in  Hwi  who  died 
that  such  ill-deserving,  hell-deserving  sinners 
might  obtain  not  only  pardon  and  acceptance 
but  adoption  into  the  family  of  God  ;  and  be 
made  heirs  of  an  imperishable  kingdom,  and 
of  a  crown  of  glory  which  fadeth  not  away, 
eternal  in  the  heavens. 

"  Our  winter  has  scarcely  begun,  although 
we  have  reached  the  first  day  of  the  new  year : 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       233 

the  grass  still  is  green,  and  the  weather  like 
the  spring — but  to-day  it  is  a  little  lowering, 
and  seems  to  portend  a  change.  When  the 
bustle  is  over  I  will  give  some  account  of  the 
company. 

"  Jan.  3rd.  Yesterday  we  had  quite  a  snow- 
storm, but  to-day  it  is  true  winter  weather — 
clear  and  cold,  and  is  perhaps  more  healthy 
than  the  mild  air  we  have  hitherto  enjoyed. 

"  On  new-year's  day  we  received  the  con- 
gratulations of  many  of  our  friends,  and  as 
usual  had  the  satisfaction  of  entertaining  about 
20  children,  besides  all  our  family.  This  little 
company  was  composed  of  8  Springs,  3  Hoff- 
mans,  2  Coxes,  and  1  Dickey,  with  our  own  lit- 
tle flock,  and  among  the  number  our  dear  little 
Hannah  Murray  Hoffman  was  not  one  of  the 
least  agreeable.  They  seemed  greatly  to  en- 
joy themselves,  both  at  their  own  feast  and 
the  dolls',  which  was  prepared  in  great  style 
by  Ellen,  who  had  received  as  a  new-year's 
gift  from  her  grandmother,  a  beautiful  little 
set  of  steel  ivory-handled  knives  and  forks, 
which  were  the  admiration  of  all  beholders. 
Everything  was  carried  on  very  well,  and  the 
children  went  off  full  and  contented;  but  I 
felt  a  little  fearful  that  their  stomachs  might 
complain  before  morning  at  the  unusual  load 
of  sweets  imposed  upon  it.  Among  the  new- 
year   guests  was   a   brother  of  James  Boyd, 


234       MEMOIR  OP  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

who  has  come  to  reside  in  this  city,  in  the 
store  of  Mr.  Delavan.  I  think  Mrs.  Uelavan 
was  at  Miss  Pierce's  school  at  the  time  Theo- 
dosia  was  in  Litchfield ;  she  is  a  very  pretty 
woman.  Susan  and  her  family  have  been 
staying  with  us  a  few  days,  but  Mr.  Ogden 
is  so  infirm  that  he  does  not  like  to  be  very 
long  from  home.  Beulah  is  passing  the  win- 
ter with  us,  quite  unexpectedly,  as  her  mar- 
riage has  been  necessarily  postponed  on  ac- 
count of  the  indisposition  of  Mr.  W.,  and 
it  seems  now  very  uncertain  when  it  will  take 
place.  We  hear  frequently  from  your  friend 
Anne  Ustick,  who  always  inquires  after  you 
when  she  comes  to  town,  though  you  used  to 
bear  her  such  a  grudge.  She  enjoys  almost 
uninterrupted  health,  and  makes  herself  very 
useful  where  she  is  in  the  Bible  cause. 

"  I  thought  I  would  begin  the  new-year  by 
returning  good  for  evil,  for  it  is  now  more 
than  a  year  since  we  have  received  a  letter 
from  you  ;  I  think  you  must  have  forgotten 
how  to  write.  But  I  must  say  a  few  words  to 
my  dear  Theodosia  ;  and  ask  her  how  she  is  ; 
and  whether  her  soul  prospers  and  is  in  health  ; 
for  she  is  much  in  my  heart,  and  my  prayer  to 
God  for  her  is  that  she  may  know  by  sweet  ex- 
perience what  it  is  to  hold  communion  with  the 
Father  and  with  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and  to 
rejoice  in  the  precious  privilege  of  being  permit- 


MEMOIR  OP  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       235 

ted  to  roll  her  burdens  upon  the  Lord  who  has 
promised  to  sustain  her.  And  would  to  God, 
my  dear  Mary,  that  you  could  be  induced  to 
cast  in  your  lot  with  those  who  have  chosen 
him  for  their  portion,  who  find  his  service  per- 
fect freedom,  and  rejoice  in  the  hope  of  his 
glory. 

"  I  sincerely  congratulate  you  all  in  having 
got  into  your  new  house,  and  w^ish  you  much 
happiness  in  the  enjoyment  of  its  comforts. 
Kiss  the  little  Charles  Dudley  for  me,  and  re- 
member me  affectionately  to  his  Father.  We 
have  lately  received  a  letter  from  Catharine 
Beecher  requesting  us  to  give  her  some  infor- 
mation respecting  you  all,  and  she  complains 
sadly  that  Theo.  has  not  answered  her  letter. 
She  has,  I  believe,  the  affection  of  a  sister  for 
Theo. 

"  Mother,  Mary,  John  and  Harriet,  George, 
&c,  &c.,  all  send  you  their  love  and  good 
Welshes  for  the  new-year.  John  and  Ellen  are 
well,  and  grow  finely.  Farewell,  my  dear 
Mary ;  may  the  blessing  of  God  rest  upon 
you,  and  make  you  such  as  you  should  be, 
prays  your  affectionate  friend, 

"  Hannah  L.  Murray." 

"  New  York,  Jan.  3d,  1833. 
"My  Dear  Mary, 

"It  is  very  long  since  we  have  had  one  w^ord 


236       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

of  intelligence  respecting  you — I  think  nine 
months.  It  is  six,  since  Mary  wrote  to  you  at 
the  time  she  sent  the  articles  you  desired  to 
have  purchased,  but  although  you  have  been 
so  long  silent,  yet,  as  it  is  new-year,  I  feel  as 
if  I  must  despatch  some  little  messenger  to 
refresh  your  memory,  and  gently  advise  you 
that  you  have  still  some  friends  of  the  name 
of  Murray  in  the  renowned  city  of  Gotham; 
that  they  enjoy  an  unusual  degree  of  health 
at  this  present ;  and  that  as  usual  they  met  in 
family  conclave  on  the  1st  day  of  January,  1833; 
but  that  the  younger  branches  having  risen 
above  the  title  of  Misses  and  Masters,  there 
was  no  collection  of  young  people,  as  in  years 
that  are  past.  And  now,  having  spent  new- 
year's  day,  let  me  ask  how  you  are,  and  how 
you  have  both  been  during  the  season  of  chol- 
era. It  was  with  us  an  awful  visitation,  and 
carried  many  unprepared,  I  fear,  to  a  dreadful 
reckoning,  as  it  seized  particularly  upon  the 
intemperate  and  dissolute  in  the  midst  of  us. 
"We  surely  have  great  cause  of  thankfulness 
to  our  heavenly  Father,  w^ho  has  preserved  us 
from  feeling  its  power,  and  who  has  returned 
us  to  our  happy  home  in  renewed  health  and 
strength.  Our  summer,  independent  of  the 
anxiety  occasioned  by  this  scourge,  was  most 
delightfully  passed  with  our  dear  Beulah,  who 
seems  to  be  perfectly  happy  in   an  excellent 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH  L.   MURRAY.  237 

husband,  and  very  affectionate  and  respectful 
children.  We  were  very  much  gratified  to 
find  her  comfiDrtably  and  pleasantly  situated. 
The  mountain  air  agreed  with  us  astonishingly, 
and  especially  with  our  dear  mother,  who,  I 
do  not  think,  has  been  so  well  fi)r  seven  years. 
She  enjoyed  herself  very  much,  as  she  was 
surrounded  by  her  daughters,  for  Susan  and 
her  Harriet  were  with  us  during  our  stay  at 
Walden.  She  has  presented  us  with  another 
sweet  little  niece,  whom  she  calls  Mary  Mur- 
ray, and  this  dear  little  one  has  beguiled 
her  mother  of  many  a  melancholy  reflection, 
and  caused  the  smile  again  to  illumine  her 
face.  They  are  all  well  there,  as  well  as  at 
Elizabeth's.  John  has  arrived  at  the  eventful 
period  of  twenty-one,  and  Ellen  is  fast  pvo- 
gressing  towards  a  grown-up,  {as  little  Lib  would 
say,)  although  she  continvies  this  winter  at  Miss 
M'Clenachan's  school. 

"  And  now,  my  dear  Mary,  let  me  wish  you 
a  happy  new-year  in  the  best  sense  of  the 
phrase.  May  old  things  be  done  away,  and  all 
things  become  new  in  your  heart !  May  every 
inordinate  passion  and  desire  be  subdued,  and 
every  thought  of  your  heart  be  brought  into 
sweet  captivity  to  the  obedience  of  Christ,  and 
may  you  sit  like  Mary  of  old,  at  the  feet  of 
Jesus,  and  learn  of  Him  who  was  meek  and 
lowly  in  mind  !    May  you  be  truly  thankful  for 


238  MEMOIR    OP   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

the  great  blessing  you  have  left  you  in  your 
dear  and  estimable  Theodocia,  and  may  you 
be  mutual  comforts  to  each  other.  My  heart's 
desire  and  prayer  for  you  is,  that  you  may  see 
the  hand  of  God  in  all  things  that  have  be- 
fallen you,  that  you  may  acknowledge  that  He 
has  a  right  to  do  what  He  will  with  His  own, 
and  that  you  would  cast  your  burdens  upon 
Him  with  the  simplicity  and  confidence  of  a 
child,  because  He  has  promised  to  sustain 
those  who  thus  comply  with  His  requisition. 
Now,  my  dear  friend,  cast  dov^n  the  weapons 
of  your  rebellion,  submit  to  the  Lord  Jesus, 
and  range  yourself  under  the  banner  of  the 
cross,  that  in  the  last  strife  you  may  say, 
Thanks  be  unto  God  who  giveth  me  the  vic- 
tory through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

"To  my  dear  Theo.  I  would  say,  keep  close 
to  Him  who  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother ; 
lean  upon  Him  as  the  beloved  of  your  souls, 
and  listen  while  He  says,  Fear  not,  for  I  am 
with  thee  ;  be  not  afraid,  for  I  am  thy  God; 
believe  in  me,  and  nothing  shall  be  able  to 
pluck  thee  from  my  Father's  hand,  and  thou  shalt 
be  where  I  am  and  behold  my  glory.  This 
surely  is  enough  to  sustain  you  through  this 
probationary  scene,  and  to  excite  you  to  gird 
up  the  loins  of  your  mind  for  the  heavenly  race, 
feeling  that  you  can  do  all  things  through  Him 
who  strengtheneth  you. 


MEMOIR  OF    HANNAH    L.    MURRAY.  239 

"Now  I  must  say  farewell,  requesting  you 
to  write  soon  and  let  us  know  how  you  fare, 
for  we  feel  very  anxious  to  hear  something 
about  you.  The  love  I  shall  send  in  a  packet, 
beginning  with  mother's,  as  the  persons  are 
too  numerous  to  particularize. 
"  And  believe  me,  always, 

"Your  sincerely  affectionate  friend, 
"  Hannah  L.  Murray." 


We  have  before  adverted  to  the  mutual  at- 
tachment between  Miss  Murray  and  Miss  Ann 
Ustick.  The  writer  had  the  privilege  of 
being  acquainted  with  the  latter  named  lady. 
It  was  but  to  know  her  in  order  to  esteem  her 
highly  for  her  intelligence,  her  frankness,  her 
lady-like  deportment,  and  the  Christian  sim- 
plicity of  her  character.  The  letters  from 
Miss  Murray  to  Miss  Ustick,  which  we  here 
subjoin,  are  indicative  of  no  ordinary  attach- 
ment and  piety. 

"New-York,  Feb.  22nd,  1830. 
"  My  dear,  very  dear  Friend, 

"  I  feel  as  if  I  must  write,  though  it  were  a 
vain  attempt  to  express  my  sympathy  with 
you  in  your  recent  heavy  trial.  But  you,  my 
beloved  Anne,  may  comprehend  it  from  our 
unity  of  heart,  from  our  long,  tender  and  in- 


840  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

timate  friendship,  our    sincere    and    heartfelt 
affection.     But  come,  let  us  praise  the  Lord 
together,  for  he  hath  wrought  marvellously,  he 
hath   wonderfully  manifested  his  faithfulness 
in  fulfiling  that  precious  promise,  that  as   our 
day  is,  so  shall  our  strength  be,  and  that  His 
strength   shall  be  made   perfect  in  our  weak- 
ness.  Truly,  those  who  put  their  trust  in  Him 
shall  never  be  confounded.   Who  is  a  rock  like 
unto  our  God  ?     He  is  a  present  help  in  time 
of  trouble.      He  is  a  high  tower  wherein  His 
children  in  time  of  danger  may  run  and  be  safe. 
He  is  the  support  of  His  people  in  every  time 
of  trial.     Oh !    my    dear   Anne,  my   heart    is 
filled   with   gratitude   on    your  behalf,  and  I 
would  call  upon  my  soul  and  all  that  is  with- 
in me,  to  bless  the  Lord  for  His  great  good- 
ness vouchsafed  to  you  on  this  great  occasion. 
I  think  you  have  every  reason  to  hope  that 
it  is  a  thorough  work,  as  those  persons   we 
have  been  acquainted  with,  who  have  submit- 
ted to  a  similar  operation,  have    never  been 
threatened  with  a  recurrence  of  the  disease. 
I  allude  to  Mrs.  P.,  Mrs.  C,  and  H.  R.     But 
under  all  circumstances  I  rejoice  and  am  com- 
forted that  you  are  in  the  hands  of  a  merciful 
and  tender  Father  who  will  never  put  upon 
you  more  than  He  will  qualify  you  to  bear. 
He  is  often  pleased  to  turn  sinners  to  himself 
by  permitting  them  to  behold  the  faith,  pa- 


MEMOIR  OP  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       241 

tience,  and  fortitude  of  his  children  under 
great  and  sore  trials  and  afflictions,  and  by 
perceiving  that  they  can  say  from  the  heart, 
Thy  will  be  done,  even  in  the  midst  of  the 
fires.  That  the  great  Physician  of  soul  and 
body  will  watch  over  you  for  good  and  give 
healing  efficacy  to  the  means  used  for  your  re- 
covery, is  my  earnest  and  constant  prayer;  for 
you  are  ever  on  my  heart  before  the  Lord. 

"  But  I  have  only  spoken  of  myself,  while 
all  the  family  have  felt  an  intense  interest  in 
your  case.  Our  dear  mother  desires  to  be 
most  tenderly  and  affectionately  remembered 
to  you,  and  to  let  you  know  you  have  been 
continually  in  her  thought.  Harriet,  too,  has 
felt  deeply  for  you,  and  your  case  has  been 
spread  before  the  Lord  morning  and  evening 
at  the  family  altar.  And  shall  we  not  rejoice 
together  that  the  Lord  has  heard  our  prayers, 
and  safely  brought  you  through  the  deep  wa- 
ters ?  Mary  will  add.  a  few  lines  for  herself. 
And  now,  my  beloved  Ann,  what  can  I  do  bet- 
ter than  to  commit  you  unto  Him  who  is  ^le 
to  keep  you  from  falling,  and  to  present  you 
spotless  before  the  presence  of  His  Father. 

"  Yours,  in  the  bonds  of  Christian  love  and 
friendship.  "  Hannah  L.  Murray. 

"  You  will  believe  me,  my  very  dear  friend, 

when   I  say  that  you  have  scarcely  been  a 
11 


242       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

minute  out  of  my  thoughts  for  the  last  week ; 
that  now  my  heart  rejoices  that  the  great  De- 
liverer has  brought  you  safely  through  the 
severe  trial  He  appointed  you,  and  that,  though 
you  must  still  suffer,  there  is  every  reason  to 
believe  that  you  will  in  a  short  time  be  re- 
stored to  health  and  usefulness.  I  do  indeed 
bless  God  for  his  goodness  to  you  under  your 
severe  trial,  and  pray  that  it  may  result  not 
only  in  good  to  your  own  soul,  but  also  to  the 
souls  of  those  who  witnessed  the  faith  and 
firmness  with  which  a  Christian  can  suffer:  for 
well  I  know,  my  beloved  Ann,  that  it  was  not 
your  own  strength  :  and  I  thank  God  for  this 
unquestionable  evidence  that  you  are  His, 
bought  with  His  precious  blood,  and  that  He 
will  at  last  place  you  among  His  jewels.  My 
tenderest  sympathy  has  been  and  still  is  with 
you,  and  that  you  may  be  speedily  restored  to 
us,  is  the  prayer  of  your  truly  affectionate 

"  Mary. 

'^Remember  us  all  very  kindly  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hartshorn,  and  the  dear  girls,  and  to 
Mrs.  Cairles  if  she  is  still  with  you. 

"H.  L.  M." 

"  To  Mrs.  Theodosia  Petit,  of  Detroit. 

"  New  York,  May  Wt/i,  1826. 
"  We  have  just,  my  dear  Theodosia,  heard 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  243 

of  your  great  affliction,   and   heavy  bereave- 
ment, and  I  feel  constrained  to  send  you  the 
expression  of  our  deep  sympathy  with  you  in 
this  very  trying  dispensation  of  your  Heavenly 
Father.     But  wliile  I  weep  with  you,  I  cannot 
but  rejoice  in  the  mercy  of  God,  which  endur- 
eth  forever,  that  has  been  preparing  you  by 
His  grace  to  sustain  this  otherwise  overwhelm- 
ing sorrow,  and,  I  humbly  trust,  to  say.  It  is  the 
Lord,  let  him    do  what   seemeth  Him  good. 
You,  my  beloved  Theo.,  will  now,  I  hope,  bring 
to  mind  all  the  promises  made  by  a  tender 
Father.     You  know  that  though  he  pleases  to 
try  you,  yet  he  himself  sits  as  the  refiner,  that 
nothing   of  the  precious   metal  may  be   lost, 
but  only  purified  from  all  its  dross.      He  has 
said,  I  am  the  husband  of  the  widow,  and  the 
father  of  the  fatherless  children ;  and  has  also 
said  that  all  things  work  together  for  good  to 
those  who  love  God.     How  should  this  Sfra- 
cious  promise    comfort  our  hearts  !     We  are 
so  short-sighted  that  we   know  not  what  is 
best  for  us ;  but  He   who  knows  our  frame, 
and  remembers  that  we   are  but  dust,  appor- 
tions our  lot  to  us  as  He  sees  will  be  most  ben- 
eficial to  our  souls,  and  will  tend  most  to  his 
glory.      My   fervent   prayer   for   you   is   that 
you  may  be  able   to   manifest  the  excellency 
of  that  religion  which  you  profess,  as  an  all- 
sufficient  support  in  time  of  trial— a  comfort 


244  MEMOIR  OP   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

which  the  world  knows  not  of  in  the  midst  of 
affliction,  and  the  foundation  of  a  hope  which 
shall  never  perish.  What  should  we  do  in 
this  world  of  trial  without  that  anchor  to  the 
soul  both  sure  and  steadfast,  and  which  enter- 
eth  into  that  which  is  within  the  veil  ?  Oh  ! 
my  dear  Theo.,  let  us  cherish  that  faith  and 
confidence  in  God,  which,  in  the  midst  of  perils 
and  afflictions,  shall  enable  us  to  say,  '  I  am 
persuaded  that  neither  death,  nor  life,  nor 
angels,  nor  principalities,  nor  powers,  nor 
things  present,  nor  things  to  come,  nor  height, 
nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall  be  able 
to  separate  us  from  the  love  of  God  which  is 
in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.' 

"Your  mother,  I  know,  will  feel  keenly  this 
stroke,  so  sudden  and  unexpected ;  but  per- 
haps God  in  his  mercy  may  sanctify  it  to  her 
soul,  and  make  it  the  means  of  drawing  her 
near  unto  himself.  Give  her  our  tenderest 
love.  We  regretted  exceedingly  Mr.  Palmer's 
departure  without  our  seeing  him,  but  now 
perceive  that  it  was  ordered  by  an  overrul- 
ing Providence.  May  we  delight  to  trace 
His  hand  in  all  things,  though  at  first  events 
may  appear  as  trivial ;  but  with  Him  there  is 
nothing  small,  nor  anything  great. 

"  We  all  deeply  sympathize  with  you,  my 
beloved  Theodosia;  and  among  the  rest  my 
dear  mother  desires  me   to  offer  her  tender 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  245 

love  and  warm  sympathy.  George,  also,  and 
Mrs.  Offden  :  but  I  have  not  room  to  enumer- 
ate,  as  Mary  wishes  to  add  a  few  lines— but 
believe  me,  with  the  sincerest  love,  and  in  the 
tenderest  bonds  of  Christian  affection,  your 
aunt, 

"  Hannah  L.  Murray. 

"  My  beloved  Theodosia, 

"  You  are  involved  in  sudden  and  deep  af- 
fliction, and  I  feel  that  you  are  in  consequence 
more  dear  to  my  heart  than  you  have  ever 
been.  I  will  not  attempt  to  console  you  ;  I 
leave  that  to  the  infinitely  kind  Being  who  has 
in  tender  love  fortified  you  for  this  very  trying 
occasion.  But  I  do  most  truly  sympathize  with 
you,  while  I  rejoice  that  you  have  an  eternal 
Friend  who  is  more  aft'ectionate,  more  power- 
ful, and  more  willing  to  sustain  and  bless  you 
than  any  earthly  friend  could  be.  Yet  I  trust 
you  have  some  tried  and  confidential  individ- 
uals to  whom  you  can  entrust  your  concerns, 
who  feel  for  and  love  you.  How  I  wish  we 
were  near  you  !  but  vain  is  the  wish.  Write 
to  us  as  .soon  as  possible,  and  inform  us  of  your 
plans,  for  we  feel  deeply  interested  in  your 
welfare. 

"  What  a  consolation  must  it  be  to  you  that 
your  dear  departed  husband  was  so  much  re- 
spected and  beloved  by  his  friends  and  fellow- 


246  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.   MURRAY. 

citizens,  as  the  letter  of  Mr.  Trowbridge  and 
the  obituary  notice  of  your  paper  testify. 

"  Remember  me  very  affectionately  to  your 
dear  mother,  and  tell  her  I  pray  for  her,  that 
God  would  sanctify  this  afflictive  event  to  her 
soul.  Tell  her  also  that  D.'s  money  was 
received,  and  deposited  according  to  order 
in  the  Savings  Bank ;  that  two  letters  have 
been  written,  of  which  no  mention  has  been 
made,  which  I  fear  have  miscarried.  John 
will  write  to  you  in  a  few  days,  and  with  Har- 
riet desires  his  affectionate  love.  More  than 
ever  yours,  Mary." 

"  New  York,  June  13th,  1824. 
"  It  is  not  easy,  my  beloved  Theodosia,  to 
express  the  heartfelt  satisfaction  your  letter 
by  Mr.  Trowbridge  afforded  us  all ;  for  though 
by  William's  last  communication  we  were  ap- 
prized of  the  important  change  your  mind  had 
experienced,  yet  we  longed  for  something 
from  your  own  pen  in  confirmation  of  the 
blessed  fact.  Oh,  my  love,  you  have  obtained 
a  treasure,  in  comparison  with  which  the 
whole  world,  with  all  the  pleasures  it  can 
offer,  is  as  nothing.  You  have  obtained  an 
interest  in  the  blood  of  the  precious  Redeemer, 
who  is  able  to  make  you  wise  unto  salvation  ; 
to  sustain  you  under  every  trial  His  wisdom 
sees  necessary  for  you,  and  to  give  you  at  last 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.      247 

a  crown  of  rejoicing  which  shall  never  fade 
away.  I  congratulate  you  from  my  heart; 
I  have  borne  you  all  more  than  daily  upon  my 
heart  before  the  throne  of  heavenly  grace ; 
and  you  may  judge  of  the  joy  I  experience 
that  my  prayers,  in  conjunction  with  many 
more  of  your  sincere  friends  have  been  thus 
far  answered.  Yours,  my  dearest  Theo.,  will 
now  be  added  to  ours,  that  God's  mercy  may 
extend  to  the  other  members  of  your  family ; 
that  the  blessed  religion  of  Jesus  might  teach 
them  submission  to,  and  cheerful  acquiescence 
in  the  dispensations  of  Providence  towards 
her;  that  she  might  be  enabled  to  see  that 
there  is  wisdom,  goodness,  and  mercy  in  all 
God's  dealings  with  her,  although  she  is  discon- 
tented under  them.  Oh,  I  pray  for  her  eman- 
cipation from  the  tyranny  of  her  own  heart. 
Tell  her  the  only  reason  I  have  not  written 
to  her  is,  that  my  eye  is  so  weak  that  I  write 
to  nobody ;  but  though  my  pen  does  not  con- 
vey my  feelings,  my  heart  is  as  warm  towards 
her  as  it  ever  was.  Beg  her  for  my  sake, 
for  your  sake,  for  her  own  sake,  and  above 
all  for  God's  sake,  to  endeavor  to  yield  her 
own  will  to  that  of  her  Maker.  I  have  been 
very  unwell  for  the  last  two  months,  but  am 
bcffinninor  to  recruit.  We  shall  leave  this  at 
5  to-morrow  morning  for  Saratoga,  with  a 
view  to  benefit  my  health.     God  bless  you, 


248       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

and  cause  you  to  grow  in  grace,  and  in  the 
knowledge  of  your  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ. 

"  Yours,  most  affectionately, 

"Mary  Murray. 

"  My  desire,  my  dear  Theo,,  has  been  very 
strong  to  write  to  you,  ever  since  the  receipt 
of  William's  letter,  which  caused  tears  of  joy 
to  moisten  my  eyes,  and  a  prayer  of  thanks  to 
ascend  to  God  for  His  goodness  manifested 
toward  you.  Well  may  we  exclaim  with  the 
Psalmist,  '  Oh  !  that  men  would  praise  the 
Lord  for  His  goodness,  and  for  His  wonderful 
works  to  the  children  of  men ;'  for  who  hut 
He  can  change  the  heart,  and  bring  a  clean 
thing  out  of  an  unclean.  It  is  the  work  of 
God  alone,  to  open  to  us  the  sink  of  corruption 
that  is  within  us,  and  to  take  the  scales  from 
our  eyes,  that  we  may  behold  that  precious 
fountain  of  our  Redeemer's  blood,  in  the 
which  we  may  wash  and  be  clean.  Oh  !  my 
dear  Theodosia,  may  we  continually  repair 
thither,  to  wash  away  all  the  stains  of  sin 
which  are  upon  us. 

"  We  have  lately  had  a  letter  from  James 
Boyd,  in  which  he  speaks  of  you  with  the 
affection  of  a  brother,  and  rejoices  in  the 
precious  change  which  you  have  experienced. 
I  know  of  no  one  that  seemed  to  receive  more 


MEMOIR  OP  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.      249 

pleasure  from  the  intelligence  than  your  uncle 
John.  You  know  he  always  loved  you  very 
much,  and  felt  a  deep  interest  in  you ;  he 
sends  you  his  heartfelt  love,  and  prayers  for 
your  steadfastness  in  the  faith.  Mother,  and 
Harriet,  and  George,  and  indeed  all  the  fam- 
ily desire  to  be  kindly  remembered  to  you  all. 
And  now,  my  dear  Theo.,  I  would  commend 
you  to  God,  and  to  the  word  of  His  grace, 
which  is  able  to  build  you  up,  and  to  give  vou 
an  inheritance  among  them  that  are  sanctified. 
"  Your  affectionate  aunt, 

"  Hannah  L.  Murray. 

"  You  must  make  Master  Charles  Dudley 
acquainted  with  his  New  York  relatives,  and 
tell  him  his  aunt  Hannah  sends  him  a  kiss.  I 
presume  you  know  that  one  of  Mr.  S.'s  daugh- 
ters has  married  a  Lieutenant  W.,  and  has 
gone  to  live  in  Detroit ;  his  mother  is  with 
her  at  present." 

11* 


CHAPTER   XI. 

EXTRACTS    FROM    HER    JOURNAL    WHILE    TRAVELLING, 


"  O  Nature,  how  in  every  charm  supreme ! 
Whose  votaries  feast  on  raptures  ever  new  ! 
O  for  the  voice  and  fire  of  seraphim, 

.To  sing  thy  glories  with  devotion  due! 
And  to  th'  enraptur'd  heart,  and  ear,  and  eye, 
Teach  beauty,  virtue,  truth,  and  love,  and  melody." 


We  are  carried  back  by  the  following  no- 
tices to  days  that  knew  nothing  of  the  com- 
fort and  expedition  of  modern  travelling.  Be- 
ginning with  the  8th  of  June,  1808,  we  have 
the  journal  of  her  tour  to  Niagara. 

"Saying  adieu  was  always  a  heart-breaking 
thing  to  me,  and  with  feelings  not  very  light, 
I  went  on  board  the  sloop  Experiment  for  Hud- 
son. The  accommodations  are  the  best  I  have 
seen ;  everything  was  neat  and  comfortable ; 
nor  did  I  hear  a  profane  word,  during  the 
whole  of  our  passage.  One  of  our  passengers 
was  the  Rev.  Dr.  Romeyn,  a  clergyman  of 
Rhinebeck,  who  there  went  on  shore,  and 
whose  good  company  we  were  loth  to  lose. 
We  arrived  at  Hudson  the  next  evening,  after 
a  passage  of  twenty-four  hours,  and  the  next 


MEMOIR  OP  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.      251 

morning  set  oif  for  Albany  by  land.  Every 
time  I  visit  this  place,  it  has  fewer  charms  for 
me  than  before.  We  were  obliged  to  remain 
here  a  whole  day ;  for  we  were  informed  that 
all  the  carriages  were  employed  in  the  smug- 
gling trade.  I  need  say  nothing  now  of  Schen- 
ectady, Amsterdam,  Palatine,  and  the  Mo- 
hawk ;  and  can  only  say  that  if  we  were 
pleased  with  our  ride  of  yesterday,  we  have 
been  enchanted  with  that  of  to-day.  T.  H. 
and  myself  have  taken  a  sketch  of  the  rapids 
of  the  Mohawk,  and  were  off,  as  we  supposed, 
for  the  wilderness.  But  instead  of  entering 
into  a  wilderness,  we  found,  as  far  as  we 
proceeded,  a  well-cultivated  and  settled  land. 
There  are  not  only  beautiful  villages,  but  taste 
in  the  buildings ;  and  in  one  of  them.  Col.  H.'s 
at  Utica,  some  fine  specimens  of  art.  For  the 
whole  distance  from  Schenectady  to  Utica,  I 
do  not  think  we  have  lost  sight  of  the  Mohawk 
for  more  than  half  an  hour  at  a  time.  O  for  a 
moment  of  inspiration,  that  I  might  paint  in 
colors  the  gentle  windings  of  this  pleasant 
stream !  But  the  muses  have  deserted  me, 
and  sought  in  my  .sister  Mary  a  more  promis- 
ing eleve.  But  the  Mohawk  so  loudly  de- 
mands my  song,  that  I  must  even  try  to  raise 
my  voice. 

"  Fain  would  I  count  thy  beauties  o'er, 
And  tell  how  ghdes  thy  wave  serene, 


252  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.   MURRAY. 

How  nobly  fring'd  on  either  shore, 
Thy  ever  beauteous  banks  are  seen. 

"  Thy  spreading  ehiis  majestic  raise 

Their  verdant  arms  to  guard  thy  stream, 
To  shield  it  from  the  noon-tide  blaze, 
And  temper  every  scorching  beam. 

"  Thy  gentle  waves  in  frolic  play, 

Now  seem  the  eager  gaze  to  shun. 
But  soon  again  in  rich  display. 

Returning  in  quick  rapids  run  ; 
Whose  curling  foam  with  lustre  bright. 
Like  gems  of  Indies  strike  the  sight." 

"  June  \4:th. — We  left  Utica,  passed  near  the 
Indian  village  at  Canaseraga,  and  rested  for 
the  night  at  Onondaga  Hollow,  by  some  sup- 
posed to  have  been  originally  a  lake.  We  rode 
along  the  banks  of  the  Seneca  river  to  Gen- 
eva, from  Geneva  to  Canandaigua,  from  Can- 
andaigua  to  Mr.  W.'s,  at  Genesee  river,  and 
on  the  19th  started  for  Niagara.  The  country 
abounds  in  oak  and  v^^alnut,  and  some  of  them 
are  trees  of  prodigious  growth.  We  reached 
Batavia,  a  large  village  on  the  Tonewanta 
creek.  But  I  cannot  stop  to  be  minute  in  my 
narrative,  till  I  come  somewhat  nearer  to  the 
most  magnificent  scene  in  nature,  the  Falls  of 
Niagara.  No  painting,  nor  spectacle,  nor  lan- 
guage can  give  any  idea  of  its  grandeur.  I 
beheld  it  in  mute  astonishment,  and  felt  it  al- 
most sacrilege  to  speak.     The  water  comes  in 


MEMOIR  OP   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  253 

such  an  immense  body,  that  the  first  idea  that 
struck  me  was  that  the  river  must  soon  be 
emptied.  As  yet  we  have  viewed  them  only 
from  what  is  called  the  '  Table  Rock ;'  they  are 
indeed  awfully  stupendous ;  I  am  not  able  to 
give  you  any  description  of  them  at  all.  We 
postponed  our  more  minute  inspection  until  to- 
morrow morning,  and  rode  on  the  same  even- 
ing to  Newark.  There  was  nothing  remark- 
able in  our  ride  until  we  came  to  a  hill,  at  the 
foot  of  which  lies  Queen ston,  on  the  British 
side,  and  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Niagara 
river.  I  think  I  never  saw  a  more  rich  and 
picturesque  scene.  The  mountain,  with  its 
grand  oaks  and  chestnuts,  through  the  open- 
ings of  which  you  have  a  fine  view  of  the  vil- 
lage and  the  river — a  little  lower  down,  four 
or  five  beautiful  points  and  bluifs — in  the  dis- 
tance, the  great  Lake  Ontario,  stretching  three 
hundred  miles  in  length,  and  one  hundred  and 
twenty  in  width — a  narrow  strip  of  land  at  the 
entrance  of  the  lake,  resembling,  at  this  dis- 
tance, a  long  bridge — all  these  together  form 
a  beautiful  picture.  And  then,  as  you  go  on  a 
little  farther,  the  entire  lake  bursts  upon  you 
in  all  its  grandeur.  At  Queenston  we  visited 
the  fort,  where  Col.  Proctor  treated  us  with 
great  urbanity,  entertained  us  with  a  band  of 
music,  which  wound  up  with  '  God  save  the 
King.'     The  next  morning  we  returned  to  see 


254  MEMOIR  OP   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

the  falls  on  the  American  side.  If  possible, 
they  are  more  terrific  on  this  side  than  on  the 
other,  although  you  have  not  so  full  a  view  of 
them.  The  noise,  which  is  literally  'the  sound 
of  many  waters,'  is  really  terrific.  But,  terrific 
as  it  was,  we  have  been  in  raptures.  The 
whole  morning  we  were  sketching  the  falls  in 
different  points  of  view,  so  that  w^e  shall  bring 
all  Niagara  to  New  York  with  us.  It  is  cer- 
tainly the  sublimest  scene  in  nature ;  as  S.  O. 
says,  'It  is  nothing  to  tell;  you  must  see  it  in 
order  to  imagine  anything  so  grand.' 

'*  0  Niagara  !  thou  canst  show 
Thy  great  Creator's  power  below 

In  language  which  confounds. 
It  bows  us  to  the  earth  in  awe, 
While  earth,  obedient  to  his  law. 

Performs  its  constant  rounds. 

"What  muse  can  tell  thy  mighty  force, 
When,  rolling  down  thy  rapid  course, 

Thou  mak'st  all  nature  shake  ? 
Thy  foaming  torrent  trembling  falls, 
And  thine  adamantine  walls 

With  trembling  horror  break. 

"  Thy  emerald  green  majestic  rolls, 
And  like  a  world  upon  its  poles 

Its  daily  course  pursues. 
Then  in  a  foam  thy  stream  is  seen, 
Fair  contrast  witli  thy  liquid  green. 

Which  every  wave  renews. 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.  255 

"  Thou  bid'st  us  raise  our  thoughts  on  high, 
To  Him  who  dwells  above  the  sky, 

And  mak'st  thy  waters  roar ; 
Like  fears  our  trembling  hearts  invade. 
As  Israel  felt  when  God  display'd, 

On  Sinai's  mount,  His  power." 

"  The  Niagara  river,  from  the  mouth  of 
Lake  Erie,  to  where  it  empties  into  Lake 
Ontario,  is  thirty-six  miles  in  length.  We  are 
now  looking  toward  home ;  yet,  strange  to 
say,  I  do  not  feel  homesick ;  I  am  indeed 
quite  happy  amid  such  scenes.  On  returning, 
we  rode  for  miles  through  our  own  lands,  and 
they  are  sufficiently  rich  and  beautiful.  My 
father  is  much  respected  here,  as  he  deserves 
to  be  everywhere.  We  returned  by  Ballston, 
and  of  course  went  to  La  Grande  Maison  ; 
but  what  was  our  astonishment,  when  they  told 
us  there  was  not  a  soul  in  the  house  but  three 
French  cooks  and  other  servants  !  We  drove 
to  Aldidge's,  and  soon  made  our  way  toward 
Albany  and  New- York. 

"  How  doth  thy  love  and  mercy  shine 
Amid  the  watery  deep  ! 
0  Lord,  I  pray,  my  heart  incline. 
Thy  holy  law  to  keep. 

"  And  may  I  count  thy  mercies  o'er, 
With  pleasure  ever  new. 
And  learn  each  day  to  love  thee  more, 
And  serve  thee  better  too. 


256       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

Then  wilt  thou  thy  good  Spirit  send, 
To  guide  me  on  my  way, 
And  aid  my  soul  her  course  to  bend 
To  realms  of  endless  joy." 

Her  tour  from  New  York  to  Philadelphia 
was  made  in  May  and  June,  1832.  From 
her  narrative  of  this  journey  we  make  only  a 
few  extracts,  and  these  few  because  they  il- 
lustrate some  early  biographical  notices  con- 
tained in  our  first  chapter.  After  giving  a 
pleasant  description  of  Newark,  Springfield, 
Bottle  Hill,  Morristown,  and  the  ridge  of 
mountains  in  the  background,  she  gives  a 
brief  account  of  Schooley's  Mountain,  whence 
the  party,  consisting  entirely  of  ladies  and  the 
coachman,  proceeded  to  Easton.  "  On  the 
Delaware  and  the  adjacent  country,"  she  says, 
"  I  feasted  my  eyes  for  a  considerable  time. 
The  sight  of  the  river  enlivened  me,  but  I 
suffered  from  headache,  and  thought  the  whole 
way  of  my  good  Doctor, 

And  often  wish'd  for  that  kind  touch 
Which  eased  my  aching  head  so  much  ; 
And  sigh'd  that  soothing  hand  to  feel 
That  knew  so  well  my  pains  to  steal. 

"There  was  nothing  remarkable  in  the  ride 
till  we  reached  Bethlehem,  a  beautiful  settle- 
ment of  the  Moravians  ;  where,  among  other 
usages  of  their  own,  we  learned,  that  on  the 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.      257 

death  of  any  one  of  the  inhabitants,  a  trumpet 
is  blown  from  the  top  of  the  church,  and  from 
the  notes  that  are  blown  the  whole  town  un- 
derstands whether  it  be  a  man,  a  woman,  a 
single  or  a  married  person,  or  a  child  that  is 
deceased.  We  visited  the  "  Sisters'  House," 
and  saw  their  embroidery.  The  family  now 
consists  of  about  one  hundred  sisters.  The 
'  Brothers*  House'  is  entirely  deserted ;  and 
the  institution  thought  to  be  on  the  decline. 
Persons  of  any  other  persuasion  than  their  own 
cannot  possess  land  in  the  town,  nor  are  they 
allowed  to  be  permanent  settlers.  The  pop- 
ulation is  German.  We  left  Bethlehem  the 
next  day,  and  the  road  was  none  of  the  best ; 
but  we  behaved  like  true  heroines. 

Jutting  stones,  nor  rocky  steep, 
Nor  mud,  nor  mire,  though  e'er  so  deep, 
Our  wondrous  constancy  could  move. 
Or  make  us  aught  of  terror  prove, 
But  calm,  serene,  we  kept  our  way, 
And  travell'd  on  throughout  the  day. 

We  reached  Philadelphia  in  safety,  and  found 
ourselves  at  home  amid  the  affectionate 
greetings  of  our  Cousin  Joseph  Lownds  and 
his  family.  There  is  One  who  watches  over 
us,  and  we  are  safe. 

"  Wednesday,  June  1st.  This  day  I  have 
been  highly  gratified  by  a  visit  to  the  seat  of 
our  forefathers ;  a  spot  they  inhabited  shortly 


258      MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

after  they  came  out  from  England,  with  Wil- 
liam Penn.  My  sensations  were  very  pleasant, 
though  uncommon.  I  seemed,  as  it  were,  to 
bring  back  the  years  that  were  gone,  and 
almost  imagined  myself  among  my  venerable 
ancestors.  Part  of  the  house  is  still  remaining, 
which  I  went  over.  The  beautiful  walnut 
trees  from  which  the  place  takes  its  name  of 
"Walnut  Grove  are  still  standing;  and  what  I 
consider  a  very  great  curiosity  is  a  piony  in 
the  garden,  which  is  at  least  a  hundred  years 
old.  After  traversing  the  grounds,  we  en- 
tered a  house  built  by  one  of  the  descendants, 
who  appropriated  one  of  the  rooms  to  the  re- 
mains of  the  ancient  furniture,  where  we 
drank  wine  out  of  the  glasses  which  belonged 
to  our  great-great-grandfather,  and  ate  from 
the  same  plates  which  ornamented  his  cup- 
board, both  of  an  hundred  years'  standing.  I 
think  I  never  enjoyed  a  visit  so  much.  We 
then  took  the  carriage,  and  rode  through 
places  belonging  to  the  elder  branches  of  the 
family.  The  Old  Vlantation,  as  it  was  called, 
was  divided  into  nine  parts,  one  for  each 
child,  where  each  has  a  house  erected.  It  is 
quite  a  remarkable  fact,  that  until  within  a 
very  few  years,  this  property  has  continued  in 
the  family.  We  dined  with  our  aged  aunt, 
a  truly  excellent  and  valuable  woman,  who  is 
anxious  for  the  souls  as  well  as  the  bodies  of 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.      259 

those  afound  her,  and  who  is  truly  one  of  the 
salt  of  the  earth.  She  is  herself  a  Friend  ;  but 
she  loves  all  who  love  Jesus  in  sincerity  and 
truth.  The  next  day  we  went  to  Friends' 
Meeting,  and  heard  Edward  Stabler  preach,  a 
public  Friend,  from  Alexandria;  he  gave  us 
truly  an  evangelical  discourse. 

"  After  three  weeks  in  Philadelphia,  we 
w^ere  homeward  bound.  We  returned  through 
East  Jersey,  and  on  Monday  morning  bent 
our  course  toward  Telegraph  Hill,  where  we 
had  the  most  magnificent  view,  Niagara  ex- 
cepted, I  ever  beheld.  It  was  a  view  of  the 
ocean,  with  all  its  vastness,  and  all  its  variety 
of  cloud  and  wave,  frigate,  gunboat,  and  fishing 
smack,  block-house  and  fort,  and  from  which 
I  took  a  sketch  that  might  be  made  a  beau- 
tiful picture  by  a  skilful  hand.  How  exceed- 
ingly sublime  is  this  vast  expanse  of  waters; 
how  vast  is  He  who  holds  them  in  the  hollow 
of  His  hand,  and  whose  voice  is  heard  amid 
the  solemn  roaring  of  the  surf,  '  Hitherto  shalt 
thou  come,  and  no  further,  and  here  shall  thy 
proud  waves  be  stayed !'  We  crossed  to 
Brunswick,  and  felt  that  we  were  nearing 
New  York.  A  delightful  sensation  was  it, 
wdien,  after  an  absence  of  six  weeks,  we 
reached  Paulus  Hook,  and  from  the  high 
grounds  near  the  ferry,  caught  a  glimpse  of 
the  city.     Queen  of  cities !  I  said  to  myself, 


260  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.   MURRAY. 

thou  excellest  them  all !  When  the  carriage 
stopped  at  the  door,  we  were  received  with 
open  arms  at  the  Square,  and  I  felt  my  heart 
rise  in  gratitude  to  God,  who  had  watched 
over  me  for  good." 

Her  next  extended  tour  was  made  in  the 
summer  of  1815,  to  Saratoga  and  Lake  George, 
and  to  which  reference  was  made  in  the  pre- 
ceding chapter.  The  writer  may  be  allowed 
to  furnish  more  particulars  from  her  journal  of 
this  tour,  as  Mrs.  S.  and  himself,  for  a  consid- 
erable portion  of  it,  were  not  only  of  the 
party,  but  their  invited  guests.  They  are 
under  great  obligations  to  the  Murray  family, 
for  the  pleasure  and  benefit  of  this  long-re- 
membered tour,  during  which  their  social  joys 
were  so  much  augmented  by  the  reciprocal 
efforts  of  the  whole  party,  in  intellectual  and 
moral  improvement.  He  has  often  thought, 
that  in  the  relaxation  of  the  inhabitants  of 
large  cities  during  the  heat  of  summer,  no  plan 
could  be  hit  upon  that,  promises  more,  than 
some  such  arrangement  as  that  carried  out 
in  this  short  and  delightful  tour.  The  two 
Miss  Murrays,  their  brother,  and  his  lady, — 
formed  just  such  a  party  as  was  fitted  to 
subserve  the  true  ends  of  relaxation.  Otium 
ex  lahoribus ;  lahores  ex  otio.  Labor  fits  us 
for  relaxation,  as    truly  as  relaxation   fits  us 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.      261 

for  labor.  Miss  Murray  was  not  exacting 
in  her  expectations  from  her  pastor ;  hut 
she  was  nobly  generous  in  anticipating  his 
exhaustion.  But  we  may  not  detain  the 
reader  from  a  few  extracts  from  her  journal. 

August  2,  1815.  ''The  proper  study  of  man- 
kind is  man."  "  If  this  be  a  truism,  the  steam- 
boat is  certainly  one  of  those  places  where  the 
study  may  be  pursued  to  advantage.  I  have 
had  the  opportunity  of  exercising  my  skill  in 
physiognomy.  On  such  occasions  I  am  all  ear, 
and,  contrary  to  my  usual  rule,  am  content  to 
forego  the  pleasure  of  talking,  and  to  be  a 
listener  only.  We  had  the  most  motley  groups 
I  ever  beheld.  It  reminded  me  of  Shake- 
speare's collection  of 

'  Blue  spirits  and  white,  black  spirits  and  grey. 
Mingle,  mingle,  mingle,  you  that  mingle  may.' 

"  At  bed  time,  it  was  impossible  to  put  your 
foot  on  any  part  of  the  floor,  without  walking 
over  legs,  arms,  or  heads.  The  beauties  of  the 
scenery,  on  this  river,  have  been  so  often  de- 
scribed, that  I  will  not  waste  my  descriptive 
powers  upon  a  subject  almost  worn  thread- 
bare ;  but  although  the  powers  of  description 
may  fail,  the  grandeur  and  sublimity  of  the 
mountains  will  endure  to  the  end  of  time. 
After  a  delightful  passage  of  only  twenty -three 


262       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

hours,  we  arrived  in  the  famous  city  of  Albany. 
We  arrived  at  Ballston  just  as  they  were  ris- 
ing from  dinner,  and  time  enough  to  be  the 
gazing  stock  of  the  w^hole  company.  But  we 
need  not  complain,  for  we  too  made  a  good 
use  of  our  eyes.  Some  seemed  as  if  they  had 
tackled  on  all  their  finery  at  once,  lest  they 
should  not  have  another  opportunity  of  dis- 
playing it;  some  looked  bold,  and  some  vul- 
gar. Some  seem  to  rank  themselves  among 
the  very  pink  of  politeness,  and  though  they 
are  not  young,  have  as  many  airs,  I  will  not  say 
graces,  as  a  miss  of  fifteen.  After  dinner,  we 
proceeded  to  Saratoga;  and  the  first  persons 
we  saw,  were  our  dear  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.,  who 
came  out  to  meet  us,  and  conduct  us  to  our 
lodgings,  where  we  recognized  several  of  our 
steamboat  acquaintances.  In  the  evening  we 
attended  prayers,  though  not  many  availed 
themselves  of  the  privilege.  The  next  day 
was  the  Sabbath :  we  attended  the  morning 
sacrifice  with  our  friends,  which  prepared  us 
in  a  measure  for  the  duties  of  the  day ;  at  half- 
past  ten,  we  assembled  in  the  Long  Room  at 
Lewis's,  wiiere  we  heard  an  instructive  dis- 
course from  Mr.  S.  It  has  been  a  solemn  and 
profitable  Sabbath.  On  Monday,  we  were  in 
a  continual  buzz  with  comers  and  goers ;  but 
we  are  quite  at  home,  as  Mike  says,  we  think 
it  good  to  be  friendly,  and  so  make  ourselves 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  263 

sociable.  We  closed  the  day  at  nine  o'clock 
with  prayer,  where  we  all  sang  Hotham,  which 
was  exceedingly  beautiful.  We  have  some 
great  ladies  here,  some  of  whom  are  greatly 
absorbed  in  their  own  dignity;  and  we  have 
some  great  men,  but  the  greatest  are  of 
the  order  o{  fustian  Ambassadors,  and  one  of 
them,  an  ugly,  lank  Dutchman,  does  not  suffer 
his  tongue  to  grow  stiff  for  the  want  of  using. 
We  are  continually  receiving  new  enforce- 
ments, and  sometimes  get  a  sight  at  great 
oddities. 

"Monday/,  llth.  This  morning  we  arose  at 
five,  and  were  off  for  Lake  George,  our  party, 
consisting  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
F.,  and  Mr.  L.,  and  those  who  composed  our 
original  company.  We  soon  reached  Glens 
Falls. 

"  Hark  !  'tis  the  dashing  water's  noise  ! 
It  is  the  solemn  cataract's  voice  ; 
And  now,  behold,  it  strikes  the  eye 
With  grave,  yet  splendid  majesty. 
Dark  are  thy  craggs,  and  foamy  white 
Thy  waters  rush  upon  the  sight ; 
And  sparkling  'mid  the  sunny  ray 
A  thousand  trembling  gems  display : 
Then  headlong  tumbling  as  they  go. 
With  rapid  speed  unite  below, 
Where  in  one  placid  stream  they  glide 
Through  lofty  banks  on  either  side, 
Crown'd  with  a  rich  luxuriant  wood 
Which  storms  for  ages  here  withstood; 


264  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

Then  sleeps  upon  its  peaceful  bed. 
Unconscions  of  the  turmoil  dread, 
Which  wraps  in  foam  its  rugged  head. 

"  This  beautiful  cataract  seemed  to  captivate 
us ;  the  eye  seemed  never  satisfied  with  gaz- 
ing at  it.  It  is  not  a  regular  sheet  of  water, 
but  is  broken  into  a  hundred  little  flills,  till 
they  seem  to  be  urging  one  another  forward, 
until  they  unite  with  the  calm  stream  below. 
The  character  of  the  rock  is  very  ledgy,  and 
the  color  that  of  slate,  so  that  its  dark  cliffs 
form  a  beautiful  contrast  with  the  white  and 
foamy  spray.  A  mill  which  is  turned  by  it 
renders  the  scene  still  more  picturesque.  It  is 
altogether  one  of  the  most  enchanting  scenes 
I  ever  beheld.  We  saw  it  after  plentiful  rains; 
I  could  not  refrain  from  exercising  my  pencil, 
and  we  returned  with  a  faint  sketch  of  its 
beauties.  After  a  late  breakfast,  at  Queens- 
bury,  we  started  for  Lake  George  ;  the  scenery 
was  fine,  but  the  roads  very  bad.  About  two 
miles  from  our  journey's  end,  the  lake  burst 
upon  us  in  full  splendor.  Before  us  was  an 
amphitheatre  of  lofty  mountains,  covered  with 
wood  to  their  summit,  at  the  foot  of  which 
the  lake  slept  peacefully,  perfectly  calm,  and 
its  surface  as  smooth  as  a  mirror,  reflecting 
nothing  but  beauty.  Three  or  four  rich  points 
stretched  out  into  the  stream,  and  directly 
in  the  foreground  arose  a  neat  little  village. 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  265 

with  its  church  and  spire.  The  rich  glow  of 
the  setting  sun  added  to  the  charms  of  this 
magnificent  picture,  and  by  contrast  deepened 
the  sombre  shades  upon  the  mountains.  Every 
mouth  was  filled  with  exclamations  as  the  view 
broke  upon  us.  Words  are  not  adequate  to 
describe  the  beauty  and  sublimity  of  the 
scene ;  they  lead  us  to  the  contemplation  of 
Him  who  '  weigheth  the  mountains  in  scales, 
and  the  hills  as  in  a  balance,'  and  who  'taketh 
up  the  islands  as  a  very  little  thing.'  Such  a 
banquet  His  bounty  gives  us. 

"  The  radiant  sun,  in  ricli  display, 
Is  seen  the  glory  of  the  day ; 
And  onward  through  the  vaulted  arch 
With  steady  course  pursues  his  march. 
In  silent  majesty  on  high, 
The  silver  moon  adorns  the  sky. 
And  in  her  train  the  gems  of  night 
Diffuse  around  their  sparkling  light. 
The  lofty  mountains  meet  the  sky, 
The  forests  raise  their  branches  high, 
And  ocean  teems  with  wonders  rare. 
And  choirs  of  songsters  charm  the  air. 
But  though  the  sun  is  glorious  seen. 
And  the  soft  moon,  night's  milder  queen, 
And  starry  gems,  with  glittering  light. 
Illume  the  darkness  of  the  night. 
Though  woods  in  endless  verdm-e  rise, 
And  birds  with  music  greet  the  skies  ; 
Yet,  0  thou  great  Origitial ! 
How  far  below  thy  creatures  fall, 

12 


266       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

Howe'er  sublime  and  fair  they  be, 

They  can't  in  thought  compare  with  thee. 

"We  put  up  at  Carter's,  and  soon  took  a 
boat  for  Sea  Island,  and  from  this  spot  I  took 
a  picturesque  sketch.  We  closed  the  day 
with  thankfulness  and  united  prayer.  The 
next  day  we  rambled,  visited  the  ruins  of  a 
large  fort,  a  place  of  some  notoriety  in  the 
days  of  Montcalm,  but  now  of  little  conse- 
quence, save  to  complete  a  beautiful  Adew  of 
the  lake,  by  making  a  fine  foreground  to  the 
picture.  The  following  day  we  returned  to 
Saratoga,  and  the  next  joined  our  friends  at 
Ballston.  Here  we  all  had  much  conversation, 
some  reading,  and  a  little  sport.  In  the  after- 
noon. Miss  B.,  Mr.  S.,  and  myself,  set  off  to 
take  a  view  of  the  '  Lover's  Leap,'  a  high,  ro- 
mantic spot,  with  a  little  stream  running  at 
the  bottom.  We  determined  to  call  it  Mount 
Parnassus,  and  accordingly  installed  Mr.  S.  in 
the  seat  of  Apollo,  and  elevated  ourselves  to 
the  dignity  of  the  muses.  We  little  thought 
of  the  mischief  we  were  doing,  until,  the  fol- 
lowing day,  one  of  the  company  discovered  it 
to  us  in  the  following  verses  : — 

"  To  Parnassus  in  haste  the  fair  Nine  had  repaired, 
For  a  rumor  had  stole  through  the  air. 
That  three  mortals,  Avith  boldest  presumption  had  dared 
In  the  rigfhts  of  the  muses  to  share. 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  267 

"  That  one  had  declared  over  wit  she'd  preside, 
And  cause  the  arch  dimple  to  play. 
And  another,  with  dagger  and  bowl  by  her  side, 
Over  tears,  sighs,  and  groans  would  bear  sway. 

"  And  so  deep  was  the  plot,  and  the  work  so  complete. 
E'en  Apollo  himself  was  dethroned  ! 
And  a  mortal  aspired  to  sit  in  that  seat 
Which  none  but  a  god  had  erst  owned. 

"  The  Nine  were  in  arms,  and  besought  of  their  chief 
The  length  of  the  mischief  to  know. 
He  returned  with  a  smile,  which  afforded  relief. 
From  a  visit  he'd  just  made  below. 

"  Where  plac'd  on  a  mount,  with  a  stream  at  its  base, 
Overshadow'd  with  hio-h  waving  trees. 
Those  three  who  had  given  Apollo  his  chase. 
Were  seated  and  chatting  at  ease. 

"  While  the  third,  more  aspiring,  determined  to  rule 
O'er  the  mind  and  the  talents  of  men. 
To  teach  them  the  science  that  raises  the  soul 
From  worthless  to  heavenly  ken. 

"  In  a  moment  of  mirth  this  sweet  spot  they  had  nam'd 
From  Parnassus,  that  seat  of  delight ; 
And  to  furnish  it  out  with  such  guests  as  it  claim'd. 
Had  exalted  themselves  to  its  height, 

"  To  preside  o'er  the  mount  as  its  guardians  below, 
As  the  muses  of  earthly  descent, 
But  dream'd  not  of  causing  such  wonder  and  woe. 
As  aught  that  the  Nine  could  resent. 

"  Apollo  then  laughing  exclaim'd,  '  Let  them  reign, 
And  rule  in  this  lower  abode. 
Our  mountain  celestial  content  to  retain, 
A  spot  fit  alone  for  a  god.'  " 


268  MEMOIR  OP   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

There  was  a  ball  in  the  evening,  and  we  spent 
a  couple  of  pleasant  hours  with  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  S.,  and  closed  the  day  with  praise  and 
prayer. 

"  August  25th.  I  begin  to  think  of  home ; 
the  very  name  animates  me,  and  I  almost  wish 
I  had  wings,  that  I  might  find  myself  without 
effort  in  dear  Hudson  Square.  Even  packing 
is  a  pleasant  work  ;  everything  is  delightful 
that  helps  us  homeward.  We  bid  adieu  to 
Sa7is  Souci;  and  it  was  not  without  regret  that 
we  said  farewell  to  some  very  agreeable  peo- 
ple. We  took  the  river  road  by  the  w^ay 
of  Stillwater  to  Albany,  and  w  ere  delighted 
with  the  banks  of  the  Hudson  and  a  view  of 
the  Mohawk  in  its  junction  wnth  the  former 
river.  We  had  a  glimpse  of  the  falls  and  the 
rapids,  a  beautifully  extended  and  diversified 
scene.  I  have  been  in  perfect  raptures  all  the 
day,  and  could  have  stopped  every  five  min- 
utes to  take  sketches  of  the  scenery.  On  the 
20th  we  embarked  for  New  York,  heard  and 
saw  much  that  interested  us,  and  after  a 
charming  passage  of  twenty  hours,  reached 
our  beloved  home.  I  shall  remember  this 
little  jaunt  with  pleasure,  as  it  has  unfolded 
more  and  more  the  character  of  those  I  was 
disposed  to  love.  It  is  thou,  O  God  of  grace, 
wiio  hast  compassed  my  paths  and  my  lying 
down,  who  hast  guarded  and  returned  me  in 


MEMOIR  OP   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  269 

safety;  to  thy  name  would  I  ascribe  all  honor 
and  praise ! 

In  the  year  1821,  Miss  Murray,  with  her 
friends,  visited  Geneseo,  on  the  Genesee  river, 
in  the  neighborhood  of  which  the  family  were 
proprietors  of  a  large  landed  estate.  We  can 
present  but  a  brief  outline  of  her  journal  on 
this  tour. 

June  \st.  "Again  w^e  are  huddled  in  groups 
on  board  the  steamboat,  handsome  and  ugly, 
little  and  big,  great  and  small  in  degree,  talk- 
ers and  taciturn,  sentimental  and  romantic. 
We  reached  Albany  after  a  tedious  passage. 
It  gave  a  quicker  pulse  to  my  heart,  to  meet 
two  of  our  early  friends,  Mrs.  S.  and  Mrs.  O. 
K.,  who  welcomed  us  with  all  the  affection 
"and  warmth -of  ancient  friendship.  We  spent 
the  Sabbath  at  Schenectady,  and  heard  Mr.  V. 
in  the  morning,  and  in  the  afternoon,  an  excel- 
lent discourse  from  a  stranger,  from  the  words, 
'  If  any  man  have  not  the  spirit  of  Christ,  he 
is  none  of  His.'  On  Monday  morning  we 
started  at  half-past  five  :  the  romantic  wind- 
ings of  the  Mohawk  have  lost  none  of  their 
beauty.  It  was  an  amusing  sight  to  us  to 
see  the  people  at  work  upon  the  canal,  they 
seemed  to  be  so  truly  in  earnest  about  it.  We 
took  up  our  abode  for  the  night  at  Little  Falls, 
where  my  sympathies  were  excited  for  a  poor 
old  German,  who  seemed  to  be  in  a  panic  lest 


270      MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

it  mif^ht  thunder;  for  I  have  a  strong  fellow- 
feeling  for  those  who  are  afraid  of  anything. 
Here  again,  we  found  the  canal  going  on 
briskly.  They  have  fifteen  hundred  men  at 
work  upon  it.  It  is  a  stupendous  work,  and 
no  doubt  will  immortalize  the  name  of  De  Witt 
Clinton.  On  Wednesday  we  reconnoitered 
Utica,  the  place  from  which  all  merchants 
from  the  West  were  formerly  supplied  with 
their  goods.  Here  we  had  an  interview  with 
a  good  many  Indians  of  the  Oneida  tribe.  On 
Friday  we  embarked  on  the  canal,  passed 
towns  and  factories,  and  streams,  and  were  car- 
ried through  woods  and  locks,  for  a  distance  of 
eighty-seven  miles.  After  seven  miles'  ride 
we  reached  Auburn,  a  beautiful  town,  which 
has  more  than  quadrupled  since 'Our  first  visit 
to  this  part  of  the  State.  From  Auburn,  we 
passed  through  several  thriving  villages,  three 
of  which  have  sprung  into  existence  since  our 
last  visit.  We  spent  the  Sabbath  at  the  beau- 
tiful town  of  Geneva,  crowning  the  summit 
of  a  romantic  hill  which  bounds  the  Lake. 
In  the  afternoon  the  Annual  Report  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  our  Church  was  read, 
giving  a  narrative  of  the  state  of  religion. 
The  notices  of  Virginia  were  very  touching. 
A  law  had  been  passed  in  that  Legislature, 
forbidding  all  persons  to  teach  the  blacks  to 
read  or  write   under   the  penalty  of  fine,  or 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.   MURRAY.  271 

stripes.  Some  heroic  females  determined 
to  instruct  these  poor  degraded  beings,  and 
for  this  purpose  established  a  Sunday  School. 
On  the  officers  of  the  law  demanding  the  fine, 
they  refused  to  pay  it;  but  said  they  were 
ready  to  receive  the  stripes!  But  no  man 
could  be  found  who  would  inflict  them.  Was 
not  this  enough  to  cover  the  framers  of  the 
law  with  shame,  and  induce  them  to  repeal 
so  scandulous  a  statute  I  We  were  now  forty 
miles  from  Geneseo,  and  the  garden  of  the 
west  was  before  us.  From  Geneva  to  Canan- 
daigua,  nothing  could  be  more  beautiful  than 
our  ride ;  our  admiration  seemed  to  have  no 
bounds.  Through  East  and  West  Bloomfield, 
Livonia  and  Lima,  we  at  length  stopped  at 
Mr.  W.'s  door,  at  Geneseo,  where  we  had  a 
happy  meeting,  and  in  a  moment  the  piazza 
was  covered  with  old  friends.  The  approach 
to  Geneseo  is  beautiful.  Mr.  W.'s  residence 
occupies  a  most  magnificent  site,  being  on  the 
slope  of  the  hill,  and  having  before  it  the  vil- 
lage, the  flats  on  the  margin  of  the  river, 
green  fields,  and  enough  of  forest  lo  give  it 
variety.  He  seems  in  all  respects  to  be  like 
the  lord  of  the  Manor;  for  he  and  his  were 
the  first  possessors  of  the  land.  They  came, 
not  sword  in  hand  to  make  war  upon  the  na- 
tive tribes,  but  by  fair  and  honorable  purchase, 
and  with  the  tree-destroying  axe,  to  fell  the 


272  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

children  of  the  forest,  and  cause  the  habita- 
tions of  cruelty  to  give  place  to  the  dwellings 
of  hospitality  and  peace.  We  are  quite  at 
home,  and  I  hope  grateful  for  the  preserving 
care  of  our  Heavenly  Father.  While  here 
we  A^sited  Mount  Morris,  which  is  one  of  the 
finest  situations  I  ever  saw  ;  near  a  large  and 
handsome  village,  where  thirteen  years  ago 
there  were  but  two  or  three  scattered  houses. 
After  viewing  and  admiring  our  lands,  we  rode 
over  to  an  Indian  settlement  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  thence  through  the  woods  to  take 
a  view  of  some  sublime  mountain  scenery,  and 
to  bring  away  with  us  what  sketches  we  could, 
and  where  the  whole  party  were  as  richly  en- 
tertained as  they  could  have  been  in  the  re- 
nowned city  of  Gotham.  We  returned  to 
Geneseo,  where,  on  Wednesday,  I  was  con- 
fined to  the  house  by  the  rain,  and  read  the 
Life  of  Catharine  de  Medicis.  I  should  be 
very  sorry  to  see  many  such  women.  For 
though  she  had  great  talents  and  mind,  her 
vices  far  outbalanced  all  that  was  fine  or  es- 
timable in  her  character,  and  France  had  very 
little  reason  to  rejoice  in  her  elevation  to  the 
throne.  The  period  in  which  she  reigned 
seemed  to  be  a  very  remarkable  one  as  it  re- 
gards women.  All  the  principal  kingdoms  of 
Europe  were  governed  by  females,  and  these 
too  of  no  common  stamp.   The  great  Elizabeth 


MEMOIR    OF   HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.  273 

ruled  England  ;  Mary,  Scotland  ;  Marguirete, 
part  of  Italy,  and  the  Low  Countries;  and 
Catharine  of  Austria,  Portugal.  We  gave  up 
our  Niagara  excursion,  and  on  Thursday  morn- 
ing set  our  faces  toward  home.  At  Auburn, 
we  found  our  old  friends  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ferine, 
and  there  had  the  satisfaction  of  hearing  him 
preach  one  of  his  most  touching  discourses, 
and  in  his  tenderest  manner.  It  was  from  that 
portion  of  Scripture  where  the  Saviour  meets 
Mary  at  the  sepulchre,  and  seeing  her  grief, 
says  to  her,  Mary  !  when  she  instantly  recog- 
nizes Him,  and  exclaims  Rabbo7ii !  It  was  a 
very  pathetic  discourse,  and  calculated  greatly 
to  encourage  those  who  are  seeking  Jesus 
sorrowing,  and  with  the  whole  heart.  We 
left  Auburn  on  Monday  morning,  and  after 
some  interviews  with  bright  and  dull  Indians, 
and  Professors  of  Colleges,  canals,  rivers, 
stages,  and  steamboats,  we  returned  by  the 
way  of  Saratoga  to  our  own  dwelling. 

"  Now  sing,  my  muse,  the  varied  charms 
Of  forests  bold  and  cultured  farms, 
Of  rivers  "where  the  sun-beams  dance, 
And  lakes  that  spread  a  broad  expanse  ; 
Of  mountains  towering  to  the  sky. 
And  vales  that  calm  beneath  them  lie  ; 
Adorn'd  with  many  a  grazing  band 
The  riches  of  this  "Western  land. 

"  Sing  of  the  many  rapids'  glide 

That  curls  and  foams  on  every  side ; 
12* 


274  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

And  of  the  lofty  grand  cascade 
That  dashes  from  its  rocky  bed 
To  meet,  with  thundering  noise  below, 
The  waters  that  quiescent  flow, 
Or  mountain  in  a  foaming  spray, 
Reflect  the  rainbow's  varied  ray. 
Such  glowing  beauties  grace  the  land 
That's  deck'd  by  nature's  partial  hand." 

"  Here  I  must  close  my  brief  narrative  of 
this  pleasant  tour.  What  shall  I  render  to  the 
Lord  for  all  his  mercies  ?  If  I  should  count 
them,  they  are  more  in  number  than  the 
sand." 


CHAPTER   XII. 

HER    LAST    SICKNESS    AND    DEATH. 


'  When  faith  and  love,  which  parted  from  thee  never, 
Had  ripened  thy  just  soul  to  dwell  with  God, 
Meekly  thou  didst  resign  this  earthly  load, 
Of  death,  called  life  ;  which  us  from  life  doth  sever. 

'  Thy  works  and  alms,  and  all  thy  good  endeavor, 
Stay'd  not  behind,  nor  in  the  grave  were  trod ; 
But,  as  Faith  pointed  with  her  golden  rod, 
Followed  thee  up  to  joy  and  peace  forever." 


It  is  well  tlmt  the  people  of  God  must  die. 
To  live  mindful  of  death,  to  become  familiar 
with  it  in  our  thoughts,  and  still  more  familiar 
with  Him  "  who  through  death  has  destroyed 
the  power  of  death,"  is  to  rob  it  of  its  sting. 

Miss  Murray  was  not  unmindful  of  the 
truth,  that  the  great  business  of  time  is  to 
prepare  for  eternity.  She  had  no  secular  ad- 
vancement to  accomplish  ;  she  had  even  no  be- 
nevolent arrangement  which  she  was  not  wil- 
ling should  be  frustrated  by  her  unexpected 
departure  from  the  present  world.  Her  mind 
was  not  so  occupied  with  the  absorbing  inter- 
ests of  earth,  nor  her  busy  thoughts  so  im- 
mersed in  its  cares  and  pur.suits,  that  if  sud- 
denly arrested  in  her  career,  there   would  be 


276  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH    L.  MURRAY. 

a  void  which  could  not  be  occupied  and  filled  by 
the  more  substantial  and  glorious  realities  of 
the  unseen  world.  Life,  to  her,  was  but  the 
verge  of  the  grave  ;  time,  but  the  outer  court 
to  eternity.  More  than  ten  years  before  her 
death  she  wrote  the  following  paragraph  in 
her  diary : 

"  This  morning,  while  upon  my  bed,  the 
subject  of  death  was  offered  to  my  contempla- 
tion. 1  thought  of  the  time  when  my  lifeless 
body  would  be  thus  stretched  out,  and  many 
who  had  little  interest  in  me  in  life  would 
come  to  gaze  upon  my  inanimate  clay.  And 
then  the  thought  rushed  upon  me.  While  they 
are  thus  viewing  what  was  once  animated  by 
a  living  soul,  where  will  that  immortal  spirit  be  ? 
Will  it  be  enjoying  the  blessedness  of  the 
heavenly  world,  beholding  the  glory  of  God 
and  the  Lamb,  and  uniting  in  the  song  to  Him 
that  loved  us;  or  will  it  be  cast  out  from  His 
holy  presence,  and  banished  to  the  blackness 
of  darkness  forever,  to  dwell  where  there  is 
weeping  and  wailing  and  gnashing  of  teeth  ? 
O  what  an  awful  alternative  !  who  can  dwell 
with  devouring  fire  ?  who  can  dwell  with 
everlasting  burnings  ?  Yet  is  this  the  doom 
of  all  those  who  obey  not  the  gospel  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  who  die  in  their  sins. 
O,  thou  divine  Saviour,  be  merciful  to  me  a 
sinner !     Whenever  the  summons  may  arrive. 


MEMOIR  OP   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  277 

may  I  be  ready  to  depart,  and  may  the  day  of 
my  death  be  better  than  the  day  of  my  birth. 
Instead  of  feeling  terror  and  dismay  at  the 
approach  of  the  last  enemy,  may  I  be  enabled, 
through  thy  Spirit,  to  greet  him  as  the  mes- 
senger sent  to  conduct  me  to  my  Father's 
house  !" 

At  another  time  she  writes  in  a  somewhat 
different  strain.  "The  thoughts  of  a  dying 
hour  have  often  distressed  my  mind  ;  which 
greatly  shows  the  corruption  of  my  nature,  or 
I  should  desire  to  go  where  I  may  serve  the 
Lord  without  sin.  But  on  reading  some  let- 
ters from  the  excellent  and  pious  Newton,  the 
following  passage  seemed  to  come  to  my  heart 
fraught  with  comfort.  '  When  the  time  has 
arrived  which  God  has  appointed  for  your 
dismission,  I  make  no  doubt  that  He  w411 
overpower  all  your  fears,  and  give  you  a  com- 
fortable and  triumphant  entrance  into  His 
kingdom.'  Grant,  Lord,  that  it  may  be  thus 
w  ith  me ;  for  I  will  trust  in  Thee.  I  cast 
myself  upon  Thee  that  Thou  mayest  do  to  me 
as  seemeth  Thee  good,  satisfied  that  Thou 
wilt  do  that  which  is  most  for  Thy  glory. 
Thou  dost  make  Thy  strength  perfect  in 
weakness,  that  the  power  may  be  seen  to  be 
of  God  alone.  Help  me,  while  I  live,  to  live 
to  Thy  glory,  and  Thou  wilt  not  forsake  me 
when  I  come  to  die .'" 


278^      MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

Solemn  thoughts  she  also  expresses  in  the 
following-  sentences.  "  The  idea  of  standing 
before  the  bar  of  God  fills  my  mind  with  ex- 
treme awe.  I  feel  how^  guilty,  how  unworthy 
I  am,  and  how  utterly  unable  I  should  be  to 
support  the  presence  of  a  pure  and  holy  God. 
My  soul  is  ready  to  sink  within  me  when  I 
contemplate  the  glory  and  majesty  of  the 
Judge  wdio  is  to  pass  my  sentence.  Yet, 
blessed  be  His  name,  in  Christ  Jesus  He  is  a 
reconciled  God  and  Father ;  and  though  in 
myself  I  could  not  bear  the  glance  of  His  eye, 
clothed  with  my  Redeemer's  righteousness,  I 
could  lift  up  my  head  with  joy.  Glory  be 
ascribed  to  God  for  His  unspeakable  gift,  who 
is  made  of  God  unto  us  wisdom,  righteousness, 
sanctification  and  redemption !" 

It  is  pleasant  to  read  the  following  thoughts 
from  her  pen,  isolated  from  her  diary,  and  yet 
found  on  one  of  its  pages,  and  headed  thus  : 
''On  feeling  a  great  fear  of  deaths  If  I  loved  God 
as  I  ought,  I  should  not  thus  be  kept  in  bond- 
age all  my  life-time  through  fear  of  death.  I 
deeply  lament  that  I  have  not  clearer  views 
of  His  glory  and  excellency,  and  that  my 
faith  is  not  stronger.  Lord,  I  believe  ;  help 
Thou  mine  unbelief!  I  would  have  such  joy 
and  peace  in  believing,  that  at  last  I  may  be 
made  a  conqueror,  and  more  than  a  conqueror, 
through  Him  who   hath  loved  me.     When  I 


MEMOIR   OF    HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  279 

contemplate  the  riches  of  His  grace  in  Christ 
Jesus,  I  sometimes  feel  strong,  and  am  ready 
to  exclaim,  How  shall  not  my  heavenly  Father, 
with  Him,  also  freely  give  me  all  things  ?" 

With  such  mingled  and  subdued  emotions 
as  these,  she  addressed  herself  to  the  last  con- 
flict. She  had  for  some  months  struggled 
with  great  debility  of  body,  but  her  last  sick- 
ness was  not  of  long  continuance.  ,Her  sur- 
viving sister,  who  had  been  her  companion 
from  childhood,  who  was  not  often  separated 
from  her  for  a  day,  and  than  whom  two  sisters 
were  never  more  devotedly  attached,  by  a 
mysterious  Providence  was  for  the  most  part 
separated  from  her  during  her  last  illness.  In 
writing  to  the  author,  she  says,  "  Being  ex- 
tremely ill  myself,  during  the  last  three  weeks 
of  my  precious  sister's  life,  I  was  denied  the 
satisfaction  and  the  great  privilege  of  witness- 
ing, except  a  few  moments  each  day,  for  the 
last  week,  when  I  was  carried  from  my  cham- 
ber to  see  her,  the  sweet,  peaceful,  and  happy 
state  of  her  mind.  My  dear  si.ster  and  nieces, 
who  were  constantly  with  her,  day  and  night, 
when  there  was  no  longer  hope  of  her  recov- 
ery, recorded  some  of  her  last  words ;  her 
precious  ejaculations,  advice,  and  prayers. 
She  appeared  to  be  constantly  in  prayer,  when 
not  under  the  influence  of  narcotics,  and  fre- 
quently in  a  low,  but  audible  voice.     May  we 


280  MEMOIR   OF    HANNAH    T-.  MURRAY. 

all  be  as  well  prepared  to  meet  our  God  as 
was  that  dear  sainted  one  ! 

"  These  dear  last  words,  recorded  by  her 
niece,  I  now  transcribe,  with  gratitude  to 
God,  who  has  considered  my  affliction,  and 
with  it  sent  me  the  greatest  consolation  of 
which  my  mind  is  susceptible. 

"  '  The  first  night  I  set  up,'  says  she,  '  with 
my  beloved  aunt,  she  suffered  so  much  as  to  ren- 
der it  almost  impossible  for  her  to  converse. 
When  partially  relieved,  she  addressed  the 
throne  of  grace  in  a  beautiful  prayer,  composed 
almost  entirely  of  texts  of  Scripture.  Had  I 
known  how  soon  we  should  have  been  called 
to  part  with  her,  every  w^ord  would  iiave  been 
treasured  up.  Her  language  was.  Cast  me  not 
away  from  thy  presence ;  take  not  thy  Holy 
Spirit  from  me  !  Put  underneath  me  thine 
everlasting  arms,  and  support  me  in  the  hour 
of  trial !  She  then  stopped,  and  addressed 
me,  and  repeated  the  hymn, 

"  Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul, 
Let  me  to  thy  bosom  fly  ; 
While  the  nearer  Avaters  roll, 
While  the  tempest  still  is  nigh." 

And  then  she  rehearsed  those  lines  of  Watts, 

"  When  I  can  read  my  title  clear. 
To  mansions  in  the  skies, 
I'll  bid  farewell  to  every  fear, 
And  wipe  my  weeping  eyes." 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       281 

Towards  morning  she  said,  "  I  am  afraid  I 
give  a  great  deal  of  trouble ;  but  I  hope  I  do 
not  complain."  The  day  following  she  slept  all 
the  morning;  and  in  the  afternoon,  feeling  weak 
and  exhausted,  she  said,  "How  often  have  I 
thought  of  the  necessity  of  preparation  for  death 
while  we  are  in  health.  When  upon  a  dying 
bed,  we  cannot  always  think  as  we  would  wish 
to  do.  I  am  sure  I  am  very  thankful  that" — 
here  her  voice  died  away,  and  when  we  looked 
on  her,  she  was  in  a  calm,  sweet  sleep.  Shortly 
after  her  brother  came  in,  and  I  repeated  to 
him  the  remark  she  had  made  with  regard  to 
the  necessity  of  preparation  for  death ;  when 
she  made  an  effort  to  speak,  and  said,  "  Yes, 
I  have  very  often  thought  oi  that ;"  then  after 
a  short  pause,  added,  "  I  hope  I  shall  not  feel 
so  drowsy  to-morrow."  For  the  two  succeed- 
ing days  and  nights,  owing  to  the  effect  of 
anodynes,  and  extreme  debility,  she  slept  the 
greater  part  of  the  time,  and  we  were  fearful 
that  w-e  should  not  enjoy  the  satisfaction  of 
hearing  her  voice  again.  But  He  who  doth 
not  willingly  grieve,  nor  afflict  the  children  of 
men,  lent  a  willing  ear  to  our  petition,  and  an- 
swered our  prayer.  Precious  in  the  sight  of 
the  Lord  is  the  death  of  His  saints ;  and  pre- 
cious to  the  Christian  mourner  is  the  last  tes- 
timony of  the  sainted  spirit  when  on  the  verge 
of  heaven.     Our  beloved  aunt  was  permitted. 


282  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

in  her  death,  to  leave  her  testimony  to  the 
truth  of  that  holy  Gospel  in  which  she  herself 
believed,  and  by  whose  precepts  her  life  had 
been  regulated,  and  by  whose  promises  her 
hopes  were  now  so  sure  and  stedfast. 

"  '  Two  days  before  her  spirit  took  its  flight, 
the  desire  that  she  might  not  be  overcome 
with  sleep  was  granted ;  and  although  ex- 
tremely weak,  she  spoke  several  times,  in  a 
clear  loud  voice.  Quite  early  in  the  morning, 
while  sister  Mary  was  sitting  near  her,  she 
sweetly  said,  "  I  shall  rejoice,  when  I  can  go 
to  my  Saviour.  It  is  far  better  to  depart  and 
be  with  Christ,  to  be  with  my  Saviour — my 
dear  Saviour — where  all  is  joy  and  peace — 
peace — peace.  I  wish  that  all  my  friends 
and  acquaintances  may  meet  together  in  that 
place,  wiiere  all  is  joy  and  peace  ;  wiiere  there 
is  no  sin,  no  sorrow,  and  be  made  partakers  of 
that  rich  repast  which  he  has  provided  for  all 
who  love  Him."  For  several  hours  after  this, 
she  was  evidently  engaged  in  prayer,  but  in  so 
low  a  voice  that  we  could  not  understand  her. 
Then  again,  clearly  and  audibly,  she  said, 
"Glory  to  God  on  high,  and  on  earth  peace 
and  good  will  to  men!  May  thy  name  be 
glorified  on  the  earth,  O  Lord  God  Almighty  !" 
And  looking  upon  those  who  were  assembled 
around  her  bed,  she  added,  "  May  they  glorify 
thy  name  on  the  earth !     May  it  be  glorified 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.      283 

in  them  and  hy  them;  and  may  they  be  pre- 
pared through  thy  grace — yes,  prepared — pre- 
pared— prepared  !"  Shortly  after,  her  brother 
John  said,  "I  think  she  will  be  with  us  yet 
some  hours."  He  had  scarcely  uttered  these 
words,  when  she  raised  her  hands  and  eyes  to 
heaven,  and  with  a  bright  celestial  smile,  and 
an  expression  I  cannot  describe,  for  there  was 
nothing  earthly  in  it,  she  dropped  her  hands, 
closed  her  beaming  eyes,  and  sweetly  fell 
asleep  in  Jesus.  We  listened  anxiously  for 
more ;  but  it  was  the  last  of  the  many,  many 
petitions  she  offered  for  those  she  loved  on 
earth.  May  her  fervent  effectual  prayers  for 
all  of  us  avail  before  the  throne  of  grace,  and 
through  faith  in  her  blessed  Redeemer,  may 
we  die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  our  last 
end  be  like  hers !'  " 

Thus  lived  and  thus  died,  on  the  third  of 
June,  1836,  in  the  fifty-ninth  year  of  her  age, 
Hannah  Lindley  Murray,  leaving  a  name  that 
is  enbalmed  in  many  a  bosom,  and  that  bears 
testimony  to  the  gradual  increase  of  that 
glorious  light  which  shinet'i  more  unto  the 
perfect  day.  That  perfect  day  she  now  be- 
holds, and  will  with  increasing  joy  behold 
throughout  interminable  ages.  Her  life  is  the 
evidence  of  her  Christianity,  and  her  death 
was  in  delightful  coincidence  with  her  life. 

We  wept  when  we  were  told  that  she  was 


284  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.   MURRAY. 

gone ;  we  wept  at  her  grave  ;  but  w^e  also  re- 
joiced. They  were  sincere  mourners  who  fol- 
lowed her  to  h^'  last  earthly  rest;  their  grief 
w^as  tender  and  lasting,  and  their  joy  is  hal- 
lowed, lasting  joy.  It  is  not  her  which  that 
venerable  vault  contains;  no,  she  is  not  there. 
None  of  that  lovely  mind,  none  of  those  win- 
ning virtues  have  crumbled  to  the  dust.  That 
sacred  fire  has  not  become  extinct,  and  has  only 
risen  to  a  purer,  brighter  flame.  The  loss  is 
ours;  the  gain  is  hers.  Yet  is  she  not  lost 
even  to  us.  "She  being  dead,  yet  speaketh." 
There  is  one  among  those  who  survive  her 
to  whom  the  loss  is  heavy  in  the  last  degree. 
The  departed  one  was  her  counsellor  in  difficul- 
ties; her  comforter  in  trial;  the  endeared  and 
interesting  participator  in  all  her  joys  and  sor- 
rows ;  and  ever  at  her  side  in  all  her  active  and 
sedentary  occupations.  They  seemed  as  if 
moved  by  one  mind,  and  it  was  their  delight  to 
act  together  in  everything.  In  some  brief,  but 
touching  thoughts  on  her  death,  this  afflicted 
sister  says,  "  Is  it  strange  that  I  should  feel  as 
if  I  had  lost  my  better  half?  I  know  He  hath 
done  all  things  w^ell.  The  Lord  gave  and  the 
Lord  hath  taken  away,  and  blessed  be  the 
name  of  the  Lord!   Yet,  O  my  precious  sister! 

"  I  seem  but  half  myself,  bereft  of  thee ; 

No  one,  now  thou  art  gone,  to  love  me  best, 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       285 

For,  sister,  thou  didst  love  me  tenderly. 

And  full  response  did  follow  from  my  breast. 

"  I  seem  but  half  myself,  when  pleasure  calls,' 
And  bids  me  tune  my  feelings  to  his  key  ; 
Without  participation  pleasure  palls, 

Now,  nought  can  charm  me,  sister,  without  thee. 

"  I  seem  but  half  myself  when  fancy  pleads, 
And  to  some  enterprise  ingenious  tends ; 
Thy  judgment  now  no  more  that  fancy  leads. 
And  mingled  mind  no  more  its  influence  lends. 

"  I  seem  but  half  myself,  when  plans  of  good 
My  single  effort  and  my  thoughts  engage ; 
Plans  grateful  to  thy  taste  as  daily  food, 
Matured  and  bettered  by  thy  coimsel  sage. 

"  I  seem  but  half  myself  in  prayer  and  praise, 
For,  sister,  thou  didst  elevate  my  frame  ; 
Thy  fair  example  did  devotion  raise. 

And  kindle  up  my  lukewarm  zeal  to  flame. 

"  I  seem  but  half  myself,  where'er  I  go, 
I  seek  in  vain  to  find  my  better  part ; 
I  seem  but  half  myself,  what'er  I  do, 
And  sigh  to  feel  the  vacuum  in  my  heart. 

"  But  be  it  so — for  God  has  so  decreed. 

And  I  profess  to  make  His  will  my  own ; 
I  may  not  from  His  covenant  recede. 
No  ;  rather  would  I  die — or  live  alone  ! 

"  Or  live  alone  ?     Why  need  I  live  alone  ? 

God  can  supply  the  vacuum  He  has  made, 
And  though,  my  sainted  sister,  thou  art  gone, 
And  in  the  silent  cemetery  laid. 


286  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

"  The  time, — blest  season !  will,  I  trust,  airive, 
When  I  shall  meet  my  better  self  in  heaven, 
Together  in  beatitude  to  live, 

No  more  by  death  to  be  asunder  riven." 

This  estimable  lady  has  the  sympathies  of 
all  who  know  her,  and  know  her  loss.  So 
tender  was  the  bond  between  the  living  and 
the  dead,  that  we  were  not  without  our  fears 
that  the  separation  would  have  been  more 
brief  than  it  has  proved.  The  living  lives  not 
in  vain,  though  she  lives  to  mourn.  We  have 
often  seen  her  tears,  and  we  have  been  per- 
mitted access  to  some  of  her  thoughts  of 
mourning.  At  the  close  of  some  pensive 
thoughts,  in  reviewing  their  separation,  she 
cannot  suppress  emotions  which  will  find  a  mel- 
ancholy responding  in  the  bosom  of  every  true 
mourner.  "  O  shall  I  ever,  dear  sister,  unite 
with  thee  in  those  pure,  elevated,  and  holy 
enjoyments  ?  Thou  God  knowest.  O,  if  it 
be  permitted  thee  to  look  down  from  the 
heights  of  the  beautiful  city,  the  New  Jerusa- 
lem, and  hold  communion  and  fellowship  with 
the  dear  ones  thou  hast  left, 

"  Meet  me,  dear  sister,  at  the  throne  of  grace. 
And  aid  my  earth-born  spirit  to  aspire, 
There  to  commune  with  thee  as  face  to  face. 
There  to  receive  from  God  our  souls'  desire. 

"When  earth's  grand  luminary  gilds  the  day, 
Dear  sister,  meet  me,  to  adore  and  praise ; 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  287 

And  when  he  burns  in  his  meridian  ray. 
Help  me  to  emulate  his  fervent  rays. 

"Meet  me,  dear  sister,  at  the  eventide 

When  sage  reflection  casts  her  hints  abroad, 
Then  may  our  spirits  meet,  and,  side  by  side. 
Pay  mingled  homage  to  our  risen  God. 

"Meet  me,  dear  sister,  in  the  midnitrht  ffloom. 
When  sickness,  sorrow,  and  distress  assail. 
Not  as  the  silent  tenant  of  the  tomb. 
But  as  the  risen  saint,  thy  sister  hail. 

"  To  elevate  my  soul  to  ardent  prayer, 
To  dissipate  the  darkness  of  the  night, 
That  in  thy  holy  breathings  I  may  share, 

While  God's  own  Spirit  makes  my  darkness  light. 

"  Meet  me,  dear  sister,  on  the  bed  of  death. 

When  flesh  and  spirit  fail,  with  Jesus  come ; 
And  when  this  clay  emits  its  latest  breath. 
With  Jesus  lead  me  to  thy  blissful  home. 

"  0  might  I  but  such  converse  entertain 

With  thee,  sweet  sister,  now  no  longer  here. 
My  lonely  bosom  would  no  more  complain, 

But  haste  to  meet  thee  at  each  hour  of  prayer." 

Blessed  are  they  that  mourn,  for  they  shall 
be  comforted.  These  dear  sisters,  we  believe, 
will  have  a  happy  meeting"  beyond  the  grave. 
Short  will  be  the  separation  now.  For  many 
a  long  year  they  bloomed  together  here  in 
less  friendly  climes.  There  the  sun  shall  not 
light  upon  them,  nor  any  heat,  but  they  shall 
bloom  together  in  unfading  joy.  Comforts 
were  mingled  with  their  sorrows,  while  the 


288  MEMOIR  OP   HANNAH   L.   MURRAY.' 

beloved  and  departed  one  was  yet  below ; 
still  they  mingle  with  the  calmness  and  piety 
of  her  protracted  grief  who  mourns.  They 
will  mingle  with  it,  cheer  its  dark  and  lonely 
hours,  and  make  the  death  of  the  living  as 
peaceful  as  the  slumbers  of  the  dead.  We 
live,  not  to  gaze  in  solemn  and  pensive  si- 
lence on  the  tomb,  but,  having  learned  from 
it  life's  uncertainty  and  the  world's  empti- 
ness, to  labor  to  enter  into  "  that  rest.'* 


CHAPTER   XIII. 


CONCLUDING    REFLECTIONS. 


•'  Lady,  that  in  the  prime  of  earhest  youth, 

Wisely  hast  shun'd  the  broad  way  and  the  green, 
And  with  those  few  art  eminently  seen 
That  labor  up  the  hill  of  heavenly  truth, 
The  better  part,  with  Mary  and  with  Ruth, 
Chosen  thou  hast." 


"  She  being  dead,  yet  speaketh."  Could  our 
departed  friend  again  visit  us,  who  would  be 
the  objects  of  her  chief  solicitude  ?  and  what 
are  the  counsels  which  she  would  address  to 
them  ?  In  conducting  this  volume  to  a  con- 
clusion, the  writer  would  fain  speak  in  her 
name,  and  utter  some  of  the  thoughts  which 
she  would  utter,  and,  so  far  as  he  can  catch 
her  spirit,  utter  them  as  she  herself  would  utter 
them.  Those  who  knew  her  best,  can  have  lit- 
tle doubt  that  she  would  address  herself 

TO   THE    YOUNG,  AND    BEAR    HER  HONEST  TESTI- 
MONY IN  FAVOR  OF  EARLY  PIETY. 

Who    ever   questioned  that  she  loved  the 


youn 


?  or   whoever   doubted    that   she   was 

honest  ?     She  speaks  to  them  in  these  pages, 

and  her  expostulation  is,  ''  Remember   now 

13 


290      MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

thy  Creator  in  the  days  of  thy  youth,  while 
the  evil  days  come  not,  nor  the  years  draw 
nigh  in  which  thou  shalt  say,  I  have  no  pleas- 
ure in  them."  Such  an  expostulation  is  the 
language  of  touching  tenderness  from  lips  like 
hers.  She  was  wont  to  utter  it  when  living ; 
they  were  words  that  dropped  from  her  lips 
like^the  rain,  and  distilled  as  the  dew.  She 
thought  of  the  young  ;  she  felt  that  childhood 
are  vanity,  and  but  as  the  morning  blushes  of 
the  day,  soon  to  wilt  under  the  scorching  sun. 
Would,  that  from  her  exmaple,  the  glori- 
ous gospel  of  the  ever-blessed  God  might  be 
enbalmecl  in  the  living  and  warm  affections  of 
the  young  !  The  claims  of  vital  godliness  are 
indeed  addressed  to  men  of  all  classes  and  all 
ages;  but  they  are  not  always  addressed  to 
their  ingenuousness,  tlieir  hopes,  and  the 
more  noble  and  honorable  sentiments  of 
their  nature.  The  God  of  heaven  has  special 
claims  upon  the  young.  It  is  one  of  the 
most  lovely  features  of  His  dispensation  of 
mercy,  that  its  claims  meet  them  at  the 
dawn  of  their  existence  ;  that  His  redemp- 
tion stands  abreast  with  their  infant  apostacy, 
and  the  riches  of  His  grace  are  coeval  with 
their  want  and  woe.  '  Seek  ye  Jirst  the  king- 
dom of  God  and  His  righteousness,'  is  His 
kind  command.  He  solicits  His  reward  from 
the    sprightliness     of    childhood     and    dewy 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  291 

youth.  There  are  i'ew,  if  any,  of  the  young 
in  Christian  lands,  with  whom  His  Spirit  does 
not  strive,  into  whose  minds  He  does  not  pour 
some  rays  of  heavenly  light,  and  to  whose 
awakened  sensibilities  He  has  not  found  access. 
Most  delightful  is  it  when  the  young  listen  to 
such  admonitions  of  heavenly  wisdom  ;  nor 
is  it  safe  to  resist  such  claims  as  these.  There 
is  a  deep  sea  of  troubled  feeling  in  some  youth- 
ful minds,  and  which,  when  it  subsides,  re- 
sembles the  tranquillity,  the  calm  of  death.  It 
is  easy  then  for  such  a  mind  to  take  its  swing 
in  the  w^orld ;  it  slumbers  on,  and  wakes  to 
learn  that  it  is  lost  forever. 

Youthful  piety  is  specially  beloved  by  God. 
Its  earliest  are  its  sweetest  adornments ;  they 
are  the  most  artless  and  transparent.  It  is 
as  when  "  the  fig-tree  putteth  forth  her  green 
figs,  and  the  vines  with  the  tender  grape  give  a 
good  smell."  The  graces  of  the  Spirit  are 
then  engrafted  on  the  green,  fresh  stalk,  and 
before  it  is  withered  and  riven  by  the  blasts 
of  winter.  "  In  the  beauties  of  holiness,  from 
the  womb  of  the  morning,  thou  hast  the  dew 
of  thy  youth."  They  may  not  be  the  richest 
and  most  splendid  robes  with  which  youthful 
piety  is  adorned  ;  but  they  are  the  least  sullied ; 
they  sparkle  like  the  spangles  of  the  early 
dew,  "I  remember  thee,"  says  God  to  His 
ancient  people  ;  "  the  kindness  of  thy   youth, 


292  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  BIURRAY. 

the  love  of  thine  espousals,  when  thou  wentest 
after  me  in  the  Avilderness,  in  a  land  that  was 
not  sown.  Israel  was  holiness  to  the  Lord 
and  the  first  fruits  of  his  increase."  How 
precious  the  thought  to  the  youthful  Christian, 
that  amid  all  his  inexperience  and  exposures, 
in  all  his  conflicts  with  the  world,  the  flesh 
and  the  devil,  in  all  his  conscious  impurities 
and  sins,  He  whom  his  young  heart  has  cho- 
sen as  his  portion  and  refuge,  remembers  him, 
and  will  never  leave  him,  nor  forsake  him  ! 

Early  piety  is  the  most  useful  piety. 
There  is  a  vast  difference  between  the  grow- 
ing brightness  of  that  piety  which  is  early 
entered  upon,  and  the  fluctuating  dead  light 
of  that  religion  which  is  commenced  in  ad- 
vanced years.  It  is  not  often  that  the  light 
shines  brilliantly  which  is  first  kindled  in  a 
dusky  old  age ;  nor  is  it  possible  it  should 
shine  long.  The  day  gives  the  brightest 
promise  that  rises  clear;  even  though  obscured 
by  a  passing  cloud,  it  sweeps  its  strong  and 
steady  course  brightly  to  the  western  sky. 
One  among  the  many  reasons  why  the  great 
mass  of  Christian  men  become  pious  in  their 
youth,  is  that  God  designs  to  give  their  piety 
time  to  shine,  and  that  they  may  long  remain 
living  exemplifications  of  His  power  and  grace. 
All  history,  all  biography,  all  observation  and 
experience,  show  that  comparatively  few  be- 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.       293 

come  pious  much  beyond  the  period  of  youth. 
On  examining  the  biography  of  nearly  sixty 
ChrLstian  men  and  women,  who  were  greatly 
distinguished  for  their  piety  and  usefulness,  I 
have  found  that  they  all  became  the  subjects 
of  divine  grace  between  ten  and  twenty-five 
years  of  age  ;  and  as  in  the  instance  of  the 
subject  of  these  Memoirs,  with  a  short  and 
early  eclipse,  their  light  shone  brighter  and 
brighter  to  the  perfect  day.  It  is  not  the 
miserable  remnant  of  a  life  jaded  with  pleas- 
ure and  worn  out  in  sin,  that  God  asks  for. 
His  kingdom  is  not  a  hospital  for  the  old  ;  it  is 
a  house  of  refuge  for  the  young.  For  one 
veteran  enemy  of  God  that  finds  access  to  it, 
'ten  thousand  youthful  offenders  set  their  faces 
toward  it  with  penitence  and  hope. 

And  how  impressively  are  we  taught  by  the 
example  of  our  departed  friend,  that  early 
piety  is  the  happiest  piety.  It  has  more  just 
and  clearer  conceptions  of  God's  truth,  and 
therefore  it  has  stronger  hopes.  It  has  a  more 
rich  and  varied  experience  of  the  goodness  and 
mercy  of  God;  of  the  way  in  which  he  leads 
His  people  ;  of  the  discipline  by  which  He 
weans  them  from  the  world,  and  trains  them 
up  for  heaven,  and  of  His  unchanging  faith- 
fulness, than  the  piety  which  is  not  subjected 
to  this  early  and  long-continued  teaching. 
These    are     experiences    ^vhich    cannot    be 


294  MEMOIR   OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

crowded  into  a  short  compass :  the  mind  can- 
not at  once  grasp  them  ;  nor  can  they  ever  be 
so  vividly  felt  as  when  they  make  their  first 
impression  on  the  youthful  heart.  Youthful 
piety  is  the  only  piety  that  gives  full  proof  of 
the  declaration,  that  "  the  ways  of  wisdom 
are  ways  of  pleasantness,  and  all  her  paths  are 
peace ;"  it  is  the  only  piety  that  credits  the 
declaration,  and  prizes  it,  w  hen  the  proud  and 
haughty  sons  and  daughters  of  earth  treat  it 
with  contempt.  The  youthful  Christian  makes 
religion  his  joy.  It  is  his  relaxation  from  toil, 
his  comfort  in  trial ;  his  light  in  darkness ;  he 
is  gloomy  and  depressed  only  when  he  does 
not  enjoy  it.  There  is  a  sort  of  fatality  at- 
tending the  piety  that  originates  in  the  later 
periods  of  human  life,  that  is  almost  as  fixed 
as  the  law  of  our  intellectual  and  moral  na- 
ture. No  small  part  of  the  enjoyments  of  men 
arises  from  visions  of  the  past.  There  is 
enough  in  the  retrospect  of  those  who  from 
childhood  entered  the  school  of  Christ,  to  fill 
them  with  self-abasement  and  humiliation ; 
but  there  is  something  else  to  look  back  upon. 
There  is  the  awakening  power  of  God's  truth; 
there  is  the  begun  work  of  His  Spirit,  and 
there  is  the  life-giving  influence  of  His  im- 
measurable grace.  And  these  are  precious 
memories.  There  is  the  dawn  of  light  and 
hope ;    there   are    the  joys    of   the    new-born 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  295 

soul,  when  she  first  put  on  her  garments  of 
gladness  and  salvation.  There  are  songs  in 
the  night.  There  are  the  frequently-recurring 
scenes  of  cheered  fellowship  with  God,  when 
the  Good  Shepherd  led  her  in  green  pastures 
and  by  the  still  waters.  And  when  in  the 
more  advanced  period  of  his  history,  as  his 
heart  becomes  sluggish  and  cold,  and  the 
.seared  leaves  of  autumn  begin  to  fall,  and  the 
winter  of  life  sets  in  ;  memory  throws  her 
thoughts  backward,  and  is  cheered  by  the  sun- 
shine of  by-gone  years.  Yesterday  is  forgot- 
ten ;  in  the  more  immediate  past  there  is  a 
chasm  in  which  the  mind  takes  little  interest; 
memory  alights  upon  earlier  days,  and  more 
vivid  scenes;  and  these  are  made  glad  by  the 
light  of  God's  countenance.  They  are  balmy 
breezes,  sweet  sounds,  the  lingering  echo  of 
early  praise,  that  come  across  these  intervening 
years.  This  is  one  of  the  rewards  of  early 
piety.  It  relieves  the  natural  imperfections  of 
age,  comforts  its  despondency  and  sorrows, 
and  cheers  its  loneliness.  On  its  withered 
branches  still  hang  the  blossom^s  of  the  open- 
ing year.  No  man  can  be  refreshed  by  the 
retrospect  of  scenes  that  never  existed.  With 
those  who  become  pious  in  advanced  life,  the 
proximate  past  is  forgotten  just  as  it  is  with 
other  men  ;  their  thoughts  are  with  the  days 
of  their  youth.     And  if  they  were  days  of 


296  MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

atheistic  worldliness  and  forbidden  joy ;  if  the 
seed-time  of  life  run  to  waste,  and  its  summer 
was  uncheered  and  barren  ;  if  it  was  not  until 
autumn  or  winter  that  the  ground  was  planted ; 
it  is  no  marvel  that  the  frozen  soil  yields  but 
a  scanty  crop  of  Joy.  Memory  runs  back  upon 
time  and  opportunity  lost ;  the  imagination 
rests  upon  scenes  that  are  mournful;  and  if  the 
Sun  of  righteousness  breaks  in  upon  the  frozen 
heart,  it  makes  a  sweep  low  down  in  the  south- 
ern sky — the  joys  are  wintry  joys,  and  have 
none  of  the  freshness  of  the  new-born  year. 

The  young  are  slow  to  learn  that  the  winter 
of  life  is  coming  on.  We  counsel  them  not  to 
add  to  it  the  bitterness  and  burden  of  youth- 
ful impiety.  It  were  wisdom  to  sow  while 
"  the  sun,  or  the  moon,  or  the  stars,  or  the  light 
be  not  darkened,  nor  the  clouds  return  after 
the  rain."  It  will  be  no  grief  of  heart  on  a 
dying  bed  that  you  were  early  adopted  into 
the  family  of  God.  It  will  not  be  matter  of 
regret  when  God  shall  bring  you  into  judg- 
ment. There  is  not  a  youth  who  reads  these 
pages  that  must  not  die.  ,  And  who  among 
them  all  will  say,  when  that  untried  scene 
arrives,  I  was  pious  too  early ;  I  was  beloved 
of  God,  I  was  happy  too  soon  ? 

No  one  can  peruse  even  this  imperfect 
sketch  of  the  character  which  is  here  exhib- 
ited, without  perceiving  also  the  difference 


MEMOIR  OF    HANNAH    L.    MURRAY.  297 

BETWEEN    THE    SPIRIT  OF  THE  WORLD,   AND  THE 
SPIRIT  WHICH  IS  OF  GoD. 

No  person  better  knew  the  enjoyments 
which  wealth  and  pleasure,  worldly  accom- 
plishments and  station  can  give,  than  the  sub- 
ject of  these  memoirs ;  none  ever  more  proved 
the  utter  insufficiency  of  them  all.  She 
might  have  enjoyed  them  even  to  satiety, 
and  pursued  them  to  the  last  limit  of  honor 
and  decorum;  but  none  knew  better  than 
she,  that  all  secular  and  adventitious  distinc- 
tions are  lost  and  swallowed  up  in  one 
more  important  and  all-absorbing  distinction. 
Earthly  distinctions  will  soon  cease.  The 
rich  and  the  poor  lie  down  alike  in  the  grave, 
and  the  worms  cover  them.  No  poverty  is  so 
humble,  but  death  is  familiar  with  its  abject- 
ness ;  no  affluence  is  so  splendid,  but  death 
draws  over  it  its  funeral  pall.  "  Riches  profit 
not  in  the  day  of  wrath."  The  rich  and  the 
poor  must  stand  at  the  same  judgment  seat, 
and  be  judged  by  the  same  rule,  when  God 
"  will  render  to  every  man  according  to  his 
works."  There  "is  no  respect  of  persons 
with  God."  The  difference  which  His  in- 
specting eye  beholds,  and  which  His  right- 
eous judgment  eternally  recognizes,  is  the  dif- 
ference "  between  him  that  serveth  God,  and 
him  that  serveth  Him  not." 

Many  a  blow  is  aimed  at  the  interests  of 
13* 


298  MEMOIR  OF    HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

vital  piety,  but  none  is  projected  with  a  more 
practiced  eye,  none  inflicts  a  deeper  wound, 
than  that  which  would  fain  destroy  all  essen- 
tial difference  of  moral  character  among-  men. 
There  is  a  difference  ;  it  is  wide  and  ever- 
lasting. And  it  is  one  which  the  character  of 
our  departed  friend  most  happily  and  palpably 
illustrates.  It  is  no  small  pleasure  to  be  al- 
lowed to  refer  to  her  character  and  example 
as  impressive  illustrations  of  the  difference 
between  the  spirit  of  Christianity  and  the 
spirit  of  the  world. 

It  is  a  mournful  fact,  that  there  are  those 
professing  godliness,  who  are  distinguished  by 
their  profession  only.  True  7'eligion,  wher- 
ever it  exists  and  is  acted  out,  is  as  truly  dis- 
tinguished from  the  spirit  of  the  world,  as  a 
pure  fountain  is  distinguished  from  one  that 
is  impure  and  turbid.  The  reason  why  the 
streams  are  not  so  easily  distinguished  is, 
that,  although  they  flow  from  different  sources 
and  run  in  a  different  direction,  and  fall  into  a 
different  receptacle  at  last,  they  both  flow 
through  the  same  soil,  and  the  purer  waters 
become  tinged  by  the  gross  and  muddy  sub- 
stances through  which  they  flow.  Yet,  by  an 
impartial  inspection  of  ourselves,  and  a  careful 
observation  of  others,  we  may  discern  the 
difference  between  the  precious  and  the  vile. 

We   learn  most  things  by  comparing  and 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  299 

contrasting  them  with  other  things.  If  we 
look  into  the  Scriptures,  we  shall  see  that  the 
spirit  of  Christianity  is  different  from  the  spirit 
of  the  world  in  several  particulars.  It  is  dif- 
ferent in  its  origin.  The  spirit  of  the  world 
is  natural  to  men  ;  it  is  "  of  the  earth,  earthy  :" 
It  is  the  common  inheritance  of  an  apostate 
ancestry.  The  germ  of  it  is  found  even  in  the 
bosom  of  a  little  child,  and  if  it  he  not  coun- 
teracted and  transformed  by  more  than  natu- 
ral causes,  it  is  sure  to  *'  grow  with  his  growth 
and  strengthen  with  his  strength."  It  is  a 
spirit  which  is  of  the  world,  and  it  \^  from  the 
world.  The  spirit  of  Christianity  has  alto- 
gether a  different  source.  It  is  not  natural  to 
men,  nor  are  they  born  with  it ;  they  do  not 
possess  it  because  they  are  human,  but  be- 
cause they  are  Christian.  It  is  the  result  of 
what  the  Scripture  calls  the  'Miew  birth;" 
the  birth  of  the  mind — by  which  it  has  a  new 
spirit,  is  ushered  into  a  new  world,  and  exists 
by  a  new  medium  and  new  influences. — "That 
which  is  born  of  the  flesh."  It  is  a  regenera- 
tion, and  one  by  which  its  faculties  acquire  a 
new  development,  and  in  which  it  sustains 
new  relations,  and  has  new  preferences,  pur- 
suits, and  joys.  It  lives  by  God's  Spirit,  walks 
by  His  Spirit,  and  is  led  by  His  S*pirit. 

These  things  impart  to  it  a  different  and  a 
peculiar  nature.     The   spirit  of  the  wc^rld  par- 


300       MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

takes  of  the  nature  of  the  world  ;  it  is  like  the 
world,  and  such  as  the  world  approves  and 
patronizes.  The  spirit  of  Christianity  resem- 
bles its  adorable  Author ;  it  is  like  Him,  and 
like  the  heaven  whence  He  came  and  whither 
He  is  gone.  The  one  is  the  spirit  of  unbelief, 
giving  no  heed  to  the  testimony  of  God ;  it  is 
the  spirit  of  disobedience,  ever  rebellious  and 
disloyal ;  it  is  a  mercenary  and  selfish  spirit, 
ever  looking  to  his  "  gain  from  his  quarter ;" 
it  is  a  proud  and  lordly  spirit,  ever  aiming  at 
greatness,  not  goodness.  The  other  is  the 
spirit  of  faith  ;  it  is  itself  the  reception  of 
God's  truth.  It  is  an  obedient  spirit ;  it  is 
not  without  law  to  God,  and  is  under  law  to 
Christ.  It  is  a  submissive  spirit,  and  prefers 
the  will  of  God  to  its  own.  It  is  a  self-deny- 
ing and  self-renouncing  spirit,  and  its  most 
triumphant  victories  are  over  a  narrow  and 
selfish  mind.  It  is  an  humble  spirit;  it  is 
clothed  with  humility  and  the  meekness  of 
wisdom  is  its  greatest  adornment. 

Their  different  origin  and  nature  give  both 
the  spirit  of  Christianity  and  the  spirit  of  the 
world  their  widely  different  practical  influ- 
ences. The  spirit  of  the  w^orld  is  fruitful  in 
darkness  and  error,  in  perversions  of  God's 
truth,  and  ih  substituting  the  notions  and  tra- 
ditions of  men  for  the  beautiful  system  of 
truth  which  is  revealed  in  the  divine  oracles. 


MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  301 

The  spirit  of  Christianity  perceives  the  truth 
as  it  is  in  Jesus;  loves  it,  feels  its  power,  and 
is  the  living  expression  and  witness  of  it  before 
the  world.  The  spirit  of  the  world  falls  in 
with  false  notions  of  piety,  and  rests  upon  false 
foundations  of  hope.  It  is  a  subtile  spirit :  it 
is  under  the  power  of  the  great  Deceiver. 
When  conscience,  or  interest,  or  the  taste  and 
fashion  of  the  times  are  not  satisfied  with  open 
irreligion,  it  settles  down  in  a  worldly  religion, 
and  one  that  is  spurious  and  false.  It  is  zeal- 
ous, but  not  in  doing  the  will  of  God.  It  is 
the  religion  of  cold  speculation,  or  of  violent 
impulse.  It  is  righteous  overmuch,  and  so  full 
of  self,  that  the  heart  in  which  it  dwells  has 
no  room  for  Christ.  The  spirit  of  Christianity, 
on  the  other  hand,  is  the  living,  breathing 
spirit  which  exerts  its  conservative  influence 
against  the  soul-destroying  extremes  of  a  hy- 
pocritical formality  and  a  delusive  impulsive- 
ness. It  is  zealous  for  what  is  right.  It  glo- 
ries in  Christ ;  its  life  is  hid  with  Christ  in 
God  ;  and  because  it  is  so,  it  is  a  standing  re- 
buke to  a  world  that  lieth  in  wickedness. 
The  spirit  of  the  world  fixes  the  heart  on  the 
things  of  time  and  sense ;  it  buries  them  there  ; 
it  makes  man  a  mere  worldling.  Christianity, 
whatever  its  earthly  possessions,  has  its  treas- 
ure in  heaven,  and  there  its  heart  is  also.  The 
world  is  the  Christian's  servant,  not  his  mas- 


302  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY, 

ter;  his  pilgrim  rest,  and  not  his  home.  The 
spirit  of  the  world  is  hostile  to  man's  highest 
enjoyment;  it  knows  not  the  highest  and 
purest  sources  of  joy,  because  it  knows  not 
God.  The  Christian  knows  Him  and  rejoices 
in  him ;  God  is  his  refuge,  his  portion,  his 
high  tower,  and  the  lifter  up  of  his  head. 
Wide  will  be  the  difference  between  the 
spirit  which  is  of  the  world  and  the  spirit 
which  is  of  God,  at  the  last;  and  how  splen- 
did the  triumphs  of  the  Christian  spirit!  How 
dim  are  the  lights  and  how  faded  the  laurels 
of  the  world  then!  And  then  that  full  song, 
"  Worthy  is  the  Lamb," — how  it  sounds  forth ! 
Who  would  live  and  die  the  mere  creature  of 
earth  ?  There  is  but  this  alternative — God  or 
the  world.  None  can  choose  for  us,  though 
eternity  hangs  upon  the  choice. 

This  memoir  will  have  been  read  in  vain, 
too,  if  it  do  not  present  some  effective  in- 
citement TO  Christian  activity  and  use- 
fulness. 

The  subject  of  it  revolted  from  the  doom  of 
the  slothful.  Dross,  chaff,  tares,  barren  trees, 
unfaithful  tenants,  are  the  bold  images  by 
which  the  Scriptures  describe  the  unprofitable 
servant.  Such  persons  are  neither  the  wiser, 
the  better,  nor  the  happier  for  all  the  riches 
of  God's  goodness,  forbearing  and  long-suffer- 
ing.    They  are  like  the  trodden,  stony,  thorny 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.      303 

ground;  hardened  against  all  good  impressions 
from  the  word,  the  providence,  and  the  Spirit 
of  God.  There  is  none  among  them  that 
doeth  good,  no  not  one.  They  "  seek  their 
own  ;"  they  are  "  lovers  of  their  own  selves;" 
and  though  they  may  be  sometimes  the  occa- 
sion, and  sometimes  the  instruments  of  doing 
good,  "  they  mean  not  so,  neither  in  their 
hearts  do  they  think  so." 

It  is  of  great  importance  that  men  should 
become  converted  and  Christian  men,  if  they 
would  be  useful.  Wealth,  talents,  accom- 
plishments, and  station  are  then  employed  to 
good  account,  and  those  who  possess  them 
live  to  some  good  purpose.  Then,  and  not  till 
then,  they  "  live  not  unto  themselves,  but  to 
him  w  ho  died  for  them  and  rose  again."  They 
are  restored  to  holiness,  to  happiness,  to  use- 
fulness. Such  a  man  comes  away  from  scenes 
of  usefulness,  mischief  and  sin,  and  enters  upon 
scenes  of  activity  and  usefulness,  that  grow 
brighter  and  more  bright,  till,  at  last,  he 
shines  as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament,  and 
as  the  stars  forever  and  ever. 

The  Christian  female  into  whose  hands  this 
volume  may  fall,  may  be  reminded  by  the 
example  of  her  whose  memory  we  have  en- 
deavored to  embalm,  that  God  has  given 
her  talents  and  opportunities  for  usefulness, 
and  that  it  is  incumbent  upon  her  to  employ 


304  MEMOIR  OP  HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

them  wisely  and  diligently.  Whether  occu- 
pying the  more  intimate  and  responsible  rela- 
tions, or,  like  our  departed  friend,  unembar- 
rassed by  these  responsibilities,  let  it  be  her 
meat  to  do  the  will  of  Him  that  sent  her  into 
the  world,  and  finish  His  work,  and  she  will 
be  beloved,  honored,  and  happy.  Usefulness, 
honor,  and  joy  will  strew  her  path,  with  flow- 
ers ;  fruits  of  righteousness  will  be  the  ingath- 
ering of  her  harvest.  Like  an  evergreen  amid 
the  seared  forest,  she  shall  become  the  glory 
of  the  fading  year;  and  when  she  comes  to 
her  grave,  it  shall  be  like  a  shock  of  corn  in 
its  season,  fully  ripe. 

"  Herein  is  my  Father  glorified,"  says  the 
greatest  of  all  teachers,  "  that  ye  bear  much 
fruit ;  so  shall  ye  be  my  disciples."  There 
are  affections,  resembling  the  religion  of  the 
gospel,  which  are  not  "  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit." 
They  evaporate  with  a  discouraged  self-right- 
eousness, and  a  deceived  and  abandoned 
hope.  They  are  ardent  and  excited  affec- 
tions, that  depend  on  natural  sympathy  and  a 
heated  imagination.  They  are  dreamy  affec- 
tions, that  are  the  effect  of  a  morbid  senti- 
mentalism  and  have  no  fellowship  with  God's 
truth.  There  is  a  faith  that  does  not  "  work 
by  love  and  purify  the  heart ;"  and  there  are 
even  religious  joys  bordering  on  extasy,  that 
are  vain  and  delusive,  because  they  impart 


MEMOIR  OP   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  305 

neither  the  strength  to  do,  nor  the  submission 
•to  suffer  the  will  of  God.  Many  a  mind  is 
trained  to  habits  of  watchfulness  and  self-con- 
trol ;  it  is  severely  schooled  by  the  laws  of 
wisdom,  prudence  and  courtesy ;  it  is  the  mere 
creature  of  policy  ;  and  only  shows  how  far  a 
w^ell-governed  self-re.spect  and  a  sound  philos- 
ophy may  restrain  hurtful  indulgencies,  and 
cultivate  the  more  honorable  virtues.  Yet 
in  all  this  there  is,  at  least,  no  regard  to  God. 
The  God  of  heaven  has  the  first  place  in 
every  pious  mind.  Piety  grows  on  this  parent 
stock.  It  is  not  always  alike  fruitful;  scorch- 
ing suns,  withering  storms,  may  pass  over  it ; 
the  dews  may  be  suspended  that  are  wont  to 
water  it ;  it  may  grow  in  the  shade,  and  lose 
its  freshness.  Yet  is  it  never  dead.  By  a 
living  faith,  it  clasps  itself  around  the  Tree  of 
Life ;  and  because  it  does  so,  it  never  degen- 
erates into  absolute  barrenness. 

The  Christian  may  be  a  more  uniformly 
useful  character  than  the  wisest  moralist,  and 
may  live  to  better  purpose.  He  does  not 
cease  to  be  a  well-informed  and  contemplative 
Christian,  because  he  is  an  active  Christian. 
"  Whatsoever  things  are  true,  whatsoever 
things  are  honest,  whatsoever  things  are  just, 
whatsoever  things  are  pure,  whatsoever  things 
are  lovely,  whatsoever  things  are  of  good  re- 
port/' he   thinks   on  these   things,  practises 


306  MEMOIR  OF   HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

them,  promotes  them;  himself  furnishing  a  liv- 
ing exemplification  of  the  reality  and  impor- 
tance of  intelligent,  vital,  practical  godliness. 

There  is  great  simplicity  and  beauty  in 
such  a  religion,  because  it  is  so  transparent, 
and  its  course  so  bright  and  luminous.  There 
is  no  deep  philosophy  about  it;  no  far-reaching 
speculations  that  are  above  the  reach  of  com- 
mon minds ;  no  dark  mysteries  in  which  the 
mind  becomes  benighted  and  bewildered.  It 
is  not  mysterious,  it  is  not  rationalism;  it  is 
active  piety.  It  speaks  for  God,  when  others 
speak  against  Him,  or  are  silent;  it  lives  for 
God,  when  others  live  for  themselves;  it 
honors  God,  when  others  dishonor  Him.  It  is 
a  remarkable  fact,  that  Christianity,  in  such 
forms,  should  have  a  place  in  such  a* world  as 
this.  When  we  see  the  brighter  examples  of 
it,  we  are  constrained  to  exclaim,  "What  hath 
God  wrought !"  Great  wisdom  and  forbear- 
ance, great  care  and  pains,  great  love  and 
power  are  necessary  on  God's  part  to  produce 
and  sustain  such  a  religion  in  the  hearts  of 
apostate  men.  It  is  above  nature,  above 
means,  above  men.  It  is  like  taking  a  plant 
from  the  crevices  of  the  sea-beaten  rock, 
where  it  has  been  bruised  by  the  storms,  and 
killed  by  the  frost  of  a  hundred  winters,  and 
clothing  it  with  verdure,  and  making  it  bud 
and  blossom  like  the  rod  of  Aaron  that  was 


MEMOIR  OP   HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.  307 

laid  up  in  the  ark.  O  how  does  the  glory  of 
God  shine  forth  even  in  the  newly-created 
mind,  when  it  is  first  decked  with  right- 
eousness as  a  garment  and'  arrayed  in  the 
beauties  of  holiness!  And  when  it  is  pro- 
gressively beautified,  and  "girded  about  with 
fine  linen,"  and  "  decked  with  ornaments," 
and  a  "  beautiful  crown  is  put  on  its  head ;" 
how  radiant  is  it,  through  "  the  comeliness 
which  the  Lord  God  has  put  upon  it !"  They 
are  splendid  triumphs  of  His  powerful  grace, 
when  Christians  become  thus  useful ;  and 
never,  until  transplanted  to  other  and  bright- 
er skies,  do  they  more  glorify  their  Father 
who  is  in  heaven.  Sweet  is  the  evidence 
then,  which  the  Christian  has  of  his  own  dis- 
cipleship.  "  He  that  followeth  after  me,"  says 
the  Saviour,  "  shall  not  walk  in  darkness,  but 
have  the  light  of  life."  And  by  no  doubtful 
signs,  do  such  Christians  indicate  their  disci- 
pleship  to  others.  Others  "  take  knowledge 
of  them,  that  they  have  been  with  Jesus,"  im- 
bibe His  Spirit,  and  imitate  His  example.  Few 
persons  are  so  prejudiced  against  religion,  as 
not  to  acknowledge  its  reality  when  they  see 
it  as  it  was  exhibited  in  the  character  of  the 
subject  of  these  Memoirs.  "  All  that  see  them 
shall  acknowledge  them,  that  they  are  the 
seed  which  the  Lord  hath  blessed." 


308  MEMOIR   OF   HANNAH   L.  MURRAY. 

Our  last  remark  is,  that  true  piety  is  the 
Glory  of  the  Fe>iale  Character. 

Woman's  tenderness  and  delicacy,  her  de- 
pendence and  her  trials,  seem  to  be  the  stock 
on  which  pure  and  undefiled  religion  may  be 
engrafted  with  the  highest  promise.  The  re- 
mark has  been  often  repeated,  that  the  num- 
ber of  pious  women  is  far  greater  than  the 
number  of  pious  men.  The  female  mind  more 
easily  subjects  itself  to  those  restraints  which 
lop  off  the  excrescences  of  human  wicked- 
ness ;  it  is  more  easily  controlled,  and  has 
more  self-control  than  the  mind  of  the  stronger 
and  more  independent  sex :  and  God  re- 
wards it. 

What  Christianity  has  done  for  the  female 
sex,  has  often  been  the  theme  of  glowing  and 
eloquent  narrative,  not  only  in  the  public  cel- 
ebrations of  its  progress,  but  on  the  pages  of 
instructive  history.  The  individuality,  the 
personality  of  woman  has  scarcely  been  recog- 
nized, save  in  Christian  lands.  Save  in  Chris- 
tian lands,  her  honor,  her  fellowship  in  intel- 
lectual and  moral  culture,  and  her  participa- 
tion in  the  progress  of  human  improvement, 
have  scarcely  had  "  a  local  habitation  and  a 
name."  Christianity,  more  than  all  other 
causes  combined,  has  assigned  to  her  her  true 
inportance  and  position,  and  claims  for  her 
the  estimation  which  is  due  to  that  class  of 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH   L.  MURRAY.  309 

minds,  which,  in  the  wisdom  of  God's  provi- 
dence, are  destined  to  exert  the  earliest,  the 
most  permanent,  and  the  most  effective  influ- 
ence upon  the  race.  Something  she  owes  to 
the  spirit  of  chivah-y ;  but  she  was  debased 
even  in  the  most  chivalrous  ages.  If  she  is 
elevated  above  the  degradation  of  servitude, 
rescued  from  the  dominion  of  ignorance,  and 
protected  from  the  blighting  corruption  of  li- 
centiousness;  it  is  because  Christianity  has 
been  her  appointed  guardian  and  protector. 
If,  when  in  health,  she  is  not  beaten  with 
stripes,  and  when  in  sickness,  she  is  not  aban- 
doned or  sent  home  ;  if  she  is  not  confined  to 
the  harem  from  the  cradle  to  the  grave  ;  if 
her  teaching  begins  and  ends  not  in  the  "  vo- 
luptuous coquetry"  by  which  she  becomes 
degraded ;  if  she  is  no  longer  an  object  of 
traffic,  and  is  not  forced  to  bury  herself  on  the 
funeral  pile  of  her  deceased  husband  ;  it  is  be- 
cause Christianity  has  stood  forth  the  avenger 
of  her  wrongs,  and  she  finds  a  sanctuary  in  the 
religion  of  Jesus.  The  sweet  charities  of  this 
religion  have  strong  claims  upon  the  heart  of 
woman. 

In  Christian  lands,  woman  is  appreciated; 
she  is  honored  for  her  refinement,  her  virtues, 
her  winning  graces,  and  the  power  which  she 
exerts  upon  the  whole  structure  of  human  so- 
ciety.    In  her  influence  upon  the  intellectual 


310      MEMOIR  OP  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

and  moral  cultivation  of  man,  she  has  en- 
trusted to  her  not  the  one  talent,  nor  yet  the 
five,  but  the  ten  talents.  To  whom  much  is 
given,  of  them  also  much  will  be  required. 
The  hold  she  has  on  man's  affections  lays  her 
under  obligations  to  fear  God  and  love  His 
Son,  which  may  not  be  disregarded,  which 
may  not  even  be  impaired,  without  such  a 
moral  degradation  of  her  character,  and  such 
a  trilling  with  responsibility,  as  fills  a  delicate 
mind  with  shame.  If  an  ungodly  man  is  not 
to  be  envied,  what  is  there  enviable  in  the 
character  of  an  ungodly  woman  ?  And  if  true 
religion  is  man's  glory,  what  a  halo  ot  beauty, 
of  loveliness,  of  heavenly  glory,  does  it  throw 
around  the  beauty,  the  grace,  the  softness,  the 
love  of  woman.  What  a  mantle  for  the  fe- 
male mind !  how  exquisite  the  adornment  of 
such  a  robe  !  how  brilliant  the  drapery  of  this 
unearthly  dress  !  As  a  daughter,  a  sister,  a 
wife,  a  mother,  and  in  all  her  relations  to  the 
church  and  to  the  world,  such  a  woman  has 
charms  that  are  unutterably  above  all  the  em- 
bellishments of  earth.  "  Favor  is  deceitful,  and 
beauty  is  vain ;  but  the  woman  that  feareth 
the  Lord,  she  shall  be  praised." 

It  is  embellished  piety  which  w^e  contem- 
plate in  reviewing  the  character  of  Miss  Mur- 
ray. And  is  it  too  much  to  say,  that  they  are 
the  claims  of  piety  on  the  more  distinguished 


MEMOIR    OF  HANNAH  L.  MURRAY.  311 

and  favored  of  her  sex,  that  are  urged  by  her 
example  ?  Whence  is  it  that  true  godliness 
is  so  often  shut  out  from  the  circles  of  the  gay, 
the  fashionable,  the  accomplished  ?  It  will 
not  always  be  thus.  We  reverence  piety  in 
the  cottages  of  the  poor;  it  deserves  our  rever- 
ence. But  we  would  see  it  elsewhere.  There 
are  allurements  of  the  world  which  can  be 
detected  only  by  the  observant  eye  of  a  well- 
educated  and  accomplished  piety ;  there  are 
seductions  which  none  but  such  a  piety  can 
resist  or  express ;  there  are  influences  which 
such  a  piety  alone  can  exert,  and  habits  and 
customs  which  such  a  piety  alone  can  control. 
Such  a  woman  occupies  a  sphere  of  no  envia- 
ble kind ;  she  moves  within  it  like  the  moon 
walking  in  her  brightness ;  and  though  not  in 
the  gaudiness  of  sunlight,  her  mild  beams  deck 
the  mountain,  the  valley,  and  the  plain,  give 
beauty  to  the  clouds,  and  sublimity  to  the 
deep  blue  vault  of  heaven.  When  we  read 
the  lives  of  some  eminently  pious  women, 
whom  the  providence  of  God  invited  to  adorn 
the  higher  ranks  of  human  society,  our  emo- 
tions are  those  of  unmingled  admiration.  It 
is  something  beyond  even  the  more  instructive 
narrative  of  the  Christian  life  when  we  set  down 
to  the  biography  of  the  Lady  Jane  Grey,  or 
Queen  Catharine  Parr,  or  Lady  Rachel  Russel, 
or  the   Countess  of  Huntingdon,  or  the  Vis- 


312  MEMOIR   OF   HANNAH  L.  MURRAY. 

countess  Glenorchy,  or  the  Lady  Arabella,  of 
Pilgrim  memory.  It  is  the  poetry  of  the  Christ- 
ian life  that  we  enjoy,  and  we  seem  to  be  re- 
galing ourselves  amid  gardens  of  spices.  The 
present  volume  addresses  itself  to  those  who 
are  bright  examples  of  female  excellence,  but 
who  have  scarcely  thought  of  being  bright 
examples  of  female  piety.  I  say,  of  female 
excellence,  but  ought  I  not  to  recall  the  words  ? 
Is  not  the  Bible  the  standard  of  excellence  ? 
Can  true  excellence  exist  where  the  claims 
of  the  Bible  are  disregarded  ?  There  is  One 
who  seeth  not  as  man  seeth.  What  is  beauti- 
ful in  man's  eye,  may  be  deformed  in  the  eye 
of  God.  Human  accomplishments,  without 
piety,  are  insipid  things  in  the  eye  of  God. 
They  are  the  sculptured  marble ;  but  the  liv- 
ing Spirit  is  not  there.  They  are  delicate 
pencilings  on  the  canvas;  but  they  are  neither 
trees,  nor  shrubs,  nor  flow  ers.  There  is  a  wide 
difference  between  personal  accomplishments 
and  piety ;  nor  is  it,  except  in  their  combina- 
tion, that  piety  has  the  most  powerful  attrac- 
tions, or  that  we  find  the  highest  style  of 
woman. 


THE    END. 


Princeton 


Theological  Seminarv  Libraries 


1    1012  01206  0465 


